After Losing My Memory, I Became Sweet - Chapter 10
After entering the office area, the heating was sufficient, so there was no need to put on another coat.
Zhu Yun handed Qin Huaichu’s coat back to him and loosened his own trench coat, still feeling a little hot.
Qin Huaichu casually tossed the coat into the small cubicle behind the CEO’s office, now only in a light gray cotton shirt.
He told Zhu Yun to wait for a while and then threw himself into his busy work.
Bored out of his mind, Zhu Yun sat in the lounge. No matter which way he turned his head, he could see bookshelves filled to the brim against the walls.
All four walls were lined with bookshelves.
Aside from the bed and the shelves, there was also a small desk with a business laptop placed on it.
Even when Qin Huaichu entered the lounge, it seemed he never forgot about work and study.
Zhu Yun casually pulled out a book, only to be surprised when he saw the cover.
The book was called The Peculiar Body, a philosophical study of fashion.
Based on what he knew of Qin Huaichu, who had majored in business in university and been in commerce for many years—over ten if one counted from his very first investment profit—Qin Huaichu was the quintessential businessman. He would never waste time on things like philosophy or art that had no direct link to business.
He would rather spend generously to hire experts. That was the most efficient and practical way.
Flipping through a few pages, Zhu Yun wondered if these books were just decorations, never once touched by Qin Huaichu.
Just as that thought passed, his finger paused.
By accident, he had uncovered a slit in the middle of the pages, from which a thin bookmark slipped out.
Zhu Yun bent down and picked it up, spotting a few free-spirited lines of handwriting.
He instantly recognized Qin Huaichu’s script.
It seemed Qin Huaichu had jotted down his reflections after reading half the book.
And at the end, there was even a sentence that felt like he was conversing with the author.
Zhu Yun never expected Qin Huaichu to have such leisure and interest.
He closed the book but quietly memorized the title.
Later, he would have to buy a copy for himself and read it properly from the start.
From Qin Huaichu’s office came sounds now and then, as if several groups had entered, spoken briefly with him, and then left in a hurry.
When Zhu Yun heard footsteps again, he went to the lounge door, cracked it open, and peeked outside.
Qin Huaichu stood alongside several middle-aged men in suits. One of them opened the office door, and outside stood more people, smiling broadly as they escorted Qin Huaichu away.
The office door closed slowly. Zhu Yun walked out of the lounge just in time to see Qin Huaichu’s departing back along with the others.
Before stepping into the elevator, Qin Huaichu seemed to glance—perhaps unintentionally—back toward the office door.
Zhu Yun’s phone chimed.
He opened it and saw a new WeChat notification.
From qhc: —I’m going to a meeting, if you need anything, find Song Xiang
qhc was his remark for Qin Huaichu, while Qin Huaichu’s actual WeChat username was simply “Qin.”
Zhu Yun stared at the message for a moment. He had the feeling Qin Huaichu had been interrupted mid-text.
But regardless of what the original words were, he had no intention of contacting Qin Huaichu’s assistant Song Xiang.
Since Qin Huaichu said he was in a meeting, it was certain he wouldn’t be free for at least two or three hours.
Leaving the CEO’s office, Zhu Yun passed by the desk of the executive assistant.
This assistant was different from Song Xiang, who was Qin Huaichu’s personal aide. The executive assistant mainly stayed in the office, arranging schedules and handling visitors.
She was a young woman who had only recently joined.
When Zhu Yun was brought in earlier, she had stepped away, so she hadn’t seen him enter.
Now, she was bent over sorting documents. Hearing the sound of the door, she looked up in surprise and saw someone walking out of the CEO’s office.
The CEO had clearly already gone to a meeting.
Which meant he had left this young man alone in his office.
Their eyes met. Zhu Yun gave her a slight smile and a nod before heading straight toward the elevators.
The assistant froze, then hesitantly pulled out her phone.
She too was in the company’s private chat group nicknamed “Seven Mouths Eight Tongues,” though she seldom joined the gossip due to her position.
She remembered that earlier today the group had been buzzing about how President Qin had brought a young man to the office.
As the executive assistant, she would never pry into Qin Huaichu’s personal matters, so she hadn’t thought of checking the office herself.
But now that the man was right before her eyes, she couldn’t help but wonder—
Was this really the young man they were talking about?
The group had said: “He’s tall, but beside President Qin he gives off a strangely delicate vibe—obedient, someone who makes you want to protect him.”
Yet the man who had just walked out—or rather, this man—when caught in this unfamiliar situation, seemed perfectly at ease.
And with eyes and a smile like that, he had more than enough personal charm, certainly not someone weak compared to President Qin.
As QZ’s executive assistant, she had access to almost every employee file.
But Zhu Yun’s file wasn’t one she could touch.
So she regretfully replied in the private group: —Sorry, I’m not sure about that gentleman’s background either.
Meanwhile, Zhu Yun entered the president’s private elevator. He had the access rights to it; back when QZ was founded, Qin Huaichu had given him top-level clearance.
This elevator could reach any floor in the QZ Group building.
The group had twenty floors in total. The CEO’s office was at the top, the conference room on the nineteenth, and the rest belonged to different departments.
The twelfth floor housed the Jewelry Design Department—the only floor besides the executive office requiring special access.
Though Zhu Yun’s team had their own workspace elsewhere, they always had a base within the group.
The design department was perhaps the most mysterious of all, directly under Zhu Yun’s management, independent from the rest of the company.
Other employees had never actually seen what the department looked like—only glimpses of staff entering or leaving, never mingling with others.
This, of course, was with Qin Huaichu’s permission, showing just how much he valued the design team.
Zhu Yun pressed for the twelfth floor, then turned right into his own office.
Unlike the open office area for the design staff, his room was private and completely secluded.
He hadn’t been there for a long time, but if he were going to be brought to QZ often by Qin Huaichu, this office could be put to use again.
Unlike Qin Huaichu’s expansive CEO suite, Zhu Yun’s office was divided into two: a computer design room and a lab.
The design room was for early drafts, while the lab was for mold work before gemstone processing.
Though unused for a while, the computer booted smoothly, and in his cloud drive he found the design sketches he’d been working on before his hospital stay.
Sitting down, Zhu Yun quickly ran a series of software tests, satisfied with the results.
Once he started working, he tended to lose himself in it, so today he restrained himself—only checking the equipment and then resetting the office as though untouched.
He left, intending to return obediently to wait in the CEO’s office.
But spotting a vending machine in the hallway, he hesitated.
Finally, he couldn’t resist and decided to buy a can of coffee.
The CEO’s office was cold and impersonal; though it had a complete, high-end tea set, Zhu Yun had no interest in tea.
Along with coffee, he planned to grab some snacks to kill the time.
Just as he scanned the vending machine with his phone, the design department’s automatic glass door opened as someone walked through.
He turned sideways, intending to avoid meeting them, heading toward the elevator instead.
He figured they couldn’t recognize him just from his back, so he didn’t hurry.
But then a voice called out.
“Shifu, is that you? How come you’re here?” The voice behind him sounded urgent.
There was only one person who would call him Shifu—Lu Xunyi.
A junior from Beijing University, two years younger, Lu Xunyi had been spotted by Zhu Yun during an internship at Yunhuo and brought into his design team.
Talented and diligent, Lu Xunyi was already being considered for future team leadership.
But he had one flaw that tested Zhu Yun’s patience—
He was clingy.
And his clinginess was reserved solely for Zhu Yun.
Colleagues joked he was like a stray puppy that had been wandering for days, then followed Zhu Yun forever after being tossed a bone.
Zhu Yun turned, and indeed, if not for the lack of a tail, Lu Xunyi really did resemble a dog wagging happily.
Lu Xunyi grinned brightly. “Shifu, what are you doing here? I thought you said you were locking yourself away to draw, so I’ve been holding back from disturbing you.”
“Here for something,” Zhu Yun replied flatly.
At the same time, he discreetly shifted the coffee and snacks to his other side.
“What a coincidence, I was called here by Jiang Chengqi—they said there’s a document I need to sign in person.” Lu Xunyi added, “Did you finish what you came for, Shifu? Where are you going next?”
Zhu Yun’s fingers twitched against the snack bag, rustling the plastic.
Expressionless, he said, “I have other matters.”
“And you—how’s your progress these past few days?” Zhu Yun asked, voice calm but eyes slightly lifted.
Lu Xunyi immediately straightened up and reported his project updates point by point.
Zhu Yun nodded slightly, then gestured at his laptop. “Open it. You said your design concept changed. Let me see.”
Hurriedly, Lu Xunyi opened the computer and handed it over with both hands.
Zhu Yun scribbled some notes on the draft. “Here, and here—it’s not reasonable. And if you change it this way, cutting later will be a major issue. You should do it like this—”
After finishing, he moved his finger away. “Revise it tonight and send it to my email.”
“Yes, Shifu! I’ll fix it as soon as I’m back in the office.” Lu Xunyi carefully hugged the laptop back.
“Do you need to go elsewhere? I can drive you. After we’re done, let me treat you to dinner?” Lu Xunyi offered eagerly.
“No.” Zhu Yun refused. “It’s not far, and it’s not convenient for you to come along.”
“I haven’t seen you in nearly half a month since you said you were locking yourself away. And now after only a few words, you’re leaving again?” Lu Xunyi sounded pitiful.
Unmoved, Zhu Yun thought for a moment, then crooked a finger.
When Lu Xunyi leaned in, Zhu Yun said quietly, “For the next half month, I’ll need you to handle something. Can you?”
“Of course! Just say the word, Shifu!”
“There’s a fishing village in Haicheng. Go there for me—” Zhu Yun’s hand rested casually on his shoulder as he instructed, “Stay there for half a month until they agree to the deal.”
Lu Xunyi’s eyes grew wider with every word, until he looked ready to cry. “That’s such a tough job, Shifu…”
Zhu Yun asked coolly, “You’re unwilling?”
They were mid-conversation when the elevator chimed.
A few seconds later, the doors opened. Standing amid men in black suits, wearing a navy striped shirt, tall and striking—was none other than Qin Huaichu.
Zhu Yun’s hand was still on Lu Xunyi’s shoulder, waiting for his agreement. He had not expected to meet Qin Huaichu here.
But of course, as QZ’s president, Qin Huaichu could go anywhere he pleased.
Zhu Yun froze for nearly a minute before Qin Huaichu’s casual gaze landed on him.
His fingers twitched, pulling away from Lu Xunyi’s shoulder. Then, in a pitifully helpless voice, he said to Lu Xunyi:
“Who are you? Why did you bring me here…”
The look he cast at Qin Huaichu, however, was automatically interpreted as: Husband, save me.