Chapter 14
Translator: Aafkee
Proofreader: Superclubs2
Lu Chuiqing looks at his reflection in the mirror and straightens his tie. It is the suit he bought after much consideration right before he entered the workforce. It costed him about a third of what he earns in a month, and Lu Chuiqing has bought it in preparation for any important events he might attend in the future.
After ensuring that there is nothing he has overlooked, Lu Chuiqing picks up his briefcase and goes out.
Guan Xiaoluo is currently squatting in front of the freezer, eating ice cream. Guan Xiaoluo coincidentally turns his head and sees Lu Chuiqing getting ready to go out. Surprised, he asks, “Brother Lu, why are you so well-dressed today? Are you going on a date?”
Lu Chuiqing scratches his head, slightly embarrassed, “No… I’m only attending a discussion forum, I guess it can be considered work.”
“Whoa, sounds high-class…”
Although Guan Xiaoluo is already in his third year in university, almost onto his fourth year, he has never properly thought through regarding his future career. Guan Xiaoluo has only
followed the trend when he chose his major, and he is the type of student who does their bare minimum just to deal with the exams.
However, since co-renting with Lu Chuiqing, he sees Lu Chuiqing going out early and returning late at night every workday. Although Lu Chuiqing seems really busy with work, Guan Xiaoluo can still tell that Lu Chuiqing truly enjoys his job and that he is living his life to the fullest.
Gradually, influenced by Lu Chuiqing, even Guan Xiaoluo begins to seriously consider his future.
Guan Xiaoluo gives two thumbs-up to Lu Chuiqing, “Brother Lu, seriously, you’re such a role model to me.”
Lu Chuiqing would get embarrassed every time Guan Xiaoluo hypes him up and praises him. If he is to be nitpicky about their age difference, there are more than ten years between Lu Chuiqing and Guan Xiaoluo. To be praised and looked up to by someone so much younger than him, Lu Chuiqing is actually afraid that he may become lazy one day and serve as a bad example to Guan Xiaoluo, unintentionally becoming a negative role model to him.
After saying his goodbyes to Guan Xiaoluo, Lu Chuiqing quickly walks to the district entrance. There is already a black sedan parked on the side of the street, Value Scan’s driver standing next to the car.
Seeing that Lu Chuiqing is here, the driver immediately greets him respectfully, preparing to open the car door for him. Overwhelmed by such favour, Lu Chuiqing quickly waves his hand, telling the driver that there is no need for such service.
It takes about a thirty-minute car ride from his accommodation to his destination. The discussion forum is held at a famous conference hall in the city. The car park is already filled up when Lu Chuiqing arrives.
There is someone at the hall entrance checking the attendees’ invitation letters and giving out documents with information about the discussion forum. There are quite a lot of people waiting at the side while chatting idly. Everyone is in formal wear, and almost all conversations revolve around their industry.
Li Chuiqing alights the car and takes a deep breath, his eyes filled with obvious excitement and expectations.
The driver informs Lu Chuiqing, “Mr Lu, CEO Xiao said that he will be waiting for you right outside the hall.”
Right as the driver is informing him, Lu Chuiqing has already spotted Xiao Zhan in his peripheral view.
Xiao Zhan is standing in the corridor near the main entrance, with three to four people standing around him. He is wearing his usual dark-coloured suit, a deep navel blue suit, which looks very compatible with his unique calmness and quietness. His shoulders, torso, arms and legs, there is not a single part of his body that is not oozing charm and charisma.
Lu Chuiqing held his breath slightly, his train of thoughts causing a disturbance in his heart.
And at that moment, Xiao Zhan lifts his eyes and noticed him too.
Lu Chuiqing pauses momentarily, readies himself and take his steps towards Xiao Zhan. Xiao Zhan passes him an invitation letter. Opening it, Lu Chuiqing sees his name and company printed on it.
Xiao Zhen, “You go in first.”
Lu Chuiqing, “Are you not going in?”
“I’m waiting for a few friends.”
Lu Chuiqing nods, holding his invitation letter tightly, “Thank you, CEO Xiao.”
Xiao Zhan replies with a nod, “Go ahead.”
Lu Chuiqing has the invitation in his hand, his other hand patting on his chest pocket where all his prepared name cards are, and moves on to find his seat that has his name on it.
Most of the content in the discussion forum is important industry-related data and information. Lu Chuiqing has learned and noted down so much just from listening to those sellers’ managers’ reports.
The discussion forum continues till five in the evening, a dinner party scheduled right after, organised by the organisers. It is specially organised for attendees to network and communicate freely amongst themselves.
Most attendees wish to get to know more people from the same industry so naturally, most are very willing to connect with each other. Lu Chuiqing also takes the initiative to get to know researchers from several different share broker companies, giving out and receiving quite a lot of name cards. Lu Chuiqing even swapped social media with those who he can get along with.
Xiao Zhan was seated at his own allocated seat most of the time since he entered the event venue. Even so, the people going over to greet him comes one after another with almost no breaks in between.
Lu Chuiqing feels like he can continue on even after the dinner party ends. He was so focused on interacting with the others that he has not eaten much at all. Seeing that Xiao Zhan is still chatting with others which seems like it will take a while, Lu Chuiqing takes a seat in front of the table and stuffs some small snacks into his mouth.
The snacks on the table are unexpectedly delicious and Lu Chuiqing can not help but takes another few servings. Noticing Xiao Zhan standing up and saying goodbye to the other party on his peripheral vision, Lu Chuiqing quickly stands up before he could swallow the food, wanting to catch up. As he hurried, his sudden movement made him choke on the unswallowed food, causing him to cough rapidly.
Xiao Zhan looks over following the sound and sees Lu Chuiqing wiping his mouth with a napkin, face flushed from the coughing as well as from his embarrassment. Xiao Zhan lets out a low laugh, nods at the person in front of him and turns to walk over to Lu Chuiqing.
Xiao Zhen, “Let’s go.”
Lu Chuiqing stops his cough, slightly embarrassed, wipes his mouth while he walks up to Xiao Zhan and the two leave the conference hall together. Once outside the venue, Xiao Zhan starts towards his own car, saying, “I’ll send you back.”
Lu Chuiqing, “Huh? Isn’t the driver sending me back…”
Xiao Zhan replies faintly, “I should at least give others a break during weekends, right?”
Lu Chuiqing has no choice but to follow since Xiao Zhan put it that way. Xiao Zhan’s car does not look like what Lu Chuiqing has expected a rich person would have. It is not the type of attention-seeking car that looks expensive. It is the type of car that an amateur can not even recognise if the car is expensive. It is the same for Lu Chuiqing.
Lu Chuiqing contemplated for a second whether or not to sit at the backseat or the front passenger seat. Seeing that there are some documents and bags in the backseat, he decides to sit at the front passenger seat in the end.
Lu Chuiqing closes the car door cautiously and looks at Xiao Zhan carefully, “Thank you for the trouble, CEO Xiao.”
The car leaves the event venue and starts towards the road.
There is a very faint fragrance of some sort of plant from the car freshener. Lu Chuiqing does not really like any car fresheners that have too strong a smell, as it usually makes him feel sick after a while. However, the car freshener in Xiao Zhan’s car is subtle and refreshing, the smell allowing him to relax.
Xiao Zhan does not talk while he is driving. Lu Chuiqing the atmosphere in the car feeling somehow heavy and wants to find something to talk about to break this heavy silence.
Lu Chuiqing tries to open his mouth several times, his prepared topic stuck in his throat. Their common topic seems to be only limited to work, but what if Xiao Zhan does not want to talk about work outside of work time?
But if not about work, what else can they talk about?
Since the conversation they had during Lu Chuiqing’s work trip last time, Xiao Zhan has never once brought up that topic again. Lu Chuiqing promised Xiao Zhan that he would give him a proper reply. However, Lu Chuiqing can not help but feel immense pressure, despite Xiao Zhan not rushing him or saying a single word about it.
Lu Chuiqing thinks that it is about time he should think through this matter seriously. He can not continue to accept so much help from Xiao Zhan without facing his confession seriously.
Lu Chuiqing can not deny that he is indeed falling in love with Xiao Zhan, but there are many things that can not rely on love alone. Will Xiao Zhan really treat him as an equal partner? Is he merely one of Xiao Zhan’s many playmates?
Or perhaps, there is a chance that Xiao Zhan is serious about this relationship? Xiao Zhan has indeed provided him with much help in his career, is the intention genuine? Or is this merely a transaction in disguise?
Lu Chuiqing has already experienced an unforgettable relationship. He can not consider it a failure, as Chen Yuan had given him warmth, it was only that he did not recognise the things he truly wanted in his previous life.
Now that he has his own career and future goals, the more he can not entrust his heart to an alpha’s illusory love. Mentally, Lu Chuiqing is no longer young. He longs for a stable family, a place that can provide him with support, a place that can provide him with shelter.
Of course, if Xiao Zhan is only interested in him sexually, he can also treat Xiao Zhan as a willing sex partner.
But what happens after? When he returns home, he would still be going to bed all alone.
Without realising, the thirty minutes car trip comes quickly to an end. Xiao Zhan parks the car at the district entrance, Lu Chuiqing bids his farewell to Xiao Zhan before alighting the car.
After a few steps, Xiao Zhan suddenly calls out to him, calling him “Xiao-Lu.” This is the first time Lu Chuiqing’s hearing Xiao Zhan calling him, he immediately stops and turns around to face him.
He sees Xiao Zhan sitting in the driver’s seat, a single hand still on the wheel while the other hand holding his mobile, asking, “Is this yours?”
Lu Chuiqing pauses and checks his own chest pocket, only realising he has dropped his phone now. It must have fallen off when he was alighting the car.
Lu Chuiqing scratches his head, slightly embarrassed. He quickly walks back to the car, lowering himself at the slightly opened windows on the driver’s side, “Sorry, CEO Xiao. That was my carelessness.”
Xiao Zhan lifts the phone towards Lu Chuiqing, but when Lu Chuiqing reaches out for it, Xiao Zhan suddenly pulled back in an instant, causing Lu Chuiqing to grab nothing instead. Lu Chuiqing is obviously flabbergasted. He looks towards Xiao Zhan while the latter reaches towards him with his other hand, grabbing on Lu Chuiqing’s wrist.
Xian Zhan’s fingers are slightly chilly, slender but strong, his strength making Lu Chuiqing bends his waist towards the car window, his head almost in the car. Lu Chuiqing stares with his eyes wide open.
Xiao Zhan leans towards him and gives him a light kiss on his cheeks.
Lu Chuiqing’s mind turns completely blank for a few seconds, surprise, astonishment and shyness filling his eyes in an instant. Lu Chuiqing straightens himself immediately and accidentally hit his head on the car window frame in the process, his cheeks flush red, even his neck is bright red.
Lu Chuiqing says, clearly panicking, “ Xiao…”
Xiao Zhan places the phone in Lu Chuiqing’s stiff hands, closing the car window swiftly after. Lu Chuiqing can only hear a faint “good night” from him.
Lu Chuiqing stands on the roadside, staring dumbly at Xiao Zhan’s car which is driving away with no hesitation whatsoever. He stands there blankly. It is the end of April, the night breeze can be quite chilly, but all he can feel are his burning cheeks despite the cold wind blowing into his face.
After being stunned for a long while, Lu Chuiqing finally returns home.
It is only about eight in the evening when he returns home. Lu Chuiqing has originally planned to use these last few hours of his weekend to organise the information he has collected from the discussion forum, or even browse through Weibo*, chill with some songs, and then go to bed after a comfortable shower.
(T/N*: A social media commonly used in China.)
But it seems like it will be impossible to do that now.
Lu Chuiqing stands at his apartment’s entrance, staring blankly for a long while. His heart still beating quickly, half due to nervousness and surprise, the other half due to his heart getting inevitably moved.
No matter the reason, whether it is pure attraction or sexual attraction, his heart is more affected than he has expected.
After a long while, he finally unlocks his door and goes inside his apartment. He sees Guan Xiaoluo sitting on the sofa, having a phone call with his boyfriend. Noticing him, Guan Xiaoluo turns to smile at him. Knowing that he might disturb Lu Chuiqing if he continues his call in the living room, Guan Xiaoluo stands up and starts towards his room.
Guan Xiaoluo is most probably discussing their holiday’s itinerary given his radiant expression.
Lu Chuiqing returns to his own room, takes out his jacket and lies in bed. He reaches out his hand and touches his cheeks, letting out a long sigh.
Just then, Lu Chuiqing feels the gland at the back of his neck heating up slightly.
His heat coincides with the Labour Day holidays, which is coming very soon. Fortunately, the Labour Day holiday this year lies right before a weekend, so there is no need for him to take leave for his heat.
As he is nearing his heat, Lu Chuiqing will sometimes have symptoms such as the heating up of his glands and sweating more than usual. There are times when he can not help himself but wedge the blanket in between his legs in his sleep, subconsciously trying to create more friction. It is also common for him to wake up in the middle of the night thirsty, so it is necessary for him to prepare a glass of water and have it placed beside his bed.
An omega entering a heat loses liquid from their body quickly, and will gradually become sexually sensitive. Their sexual desires are usually the strongest during the first day of their heats, getting aroused in two to three hours intervals. The frequency will decline gradually during the second day, and on their third day, omegas can function as per normal as long as they are not aroused.
Lu Chuiqing takes a big gulp of water, the back of his neck cooling down only after he has sprayed some relief spray on it.
However, the faint heat Lu Chuiqing feels in his heart remains, unwavering, evoking a sense of loss and uneasiness in him.
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