I Fell In Love With My Friend's Younger Brother Who Has A Low Sense Of Presence. - Chapter 4:
Chapter 4: The Bar
Because he woke up ten minutes late, Su Shixiao didn’t even buy breakfast and hurried into the company. With only eight minutes left until he would be late, the elevator was too crowded for him to squeeze in. Helplessly, he could only stand by the elevator entrance with a crowd of people and wait for the next one.
Nan Yanzhou walked past Su Shixiao while heading toward the executive elevator with Assistant Cheng.
Su Shixiao suddenly met his eyes, his earlobes slightly reddening, and then he heard Nan Yanzhou say, “Come here.”
The others, busy rushing for the elevator, didn’t notice their boss was here, though a few people did see the scene.
Assistant Cheng was puzzled to see Mr. Nan talking to the employee who just started yesterday.
Su Shixiao’s heart jumped, and he subconsciously followed. “Mr. Nan, is there something you need?”
Nan Yanzhou stopped. “It’s nothing. From now on, you can take the executive elevator up; no need to squeeze with others.”
Su Shixiao was momentarily surprised, but thinking that Nan Yanzhou had a good relationship with his eldest brother and Xiao Bei, it was understandable that he would be nice to him. He smiled faintly and refused, “Thank you, Mr. Nan, but no. It wouldn’t look good for others to see.”
Assistant Cheng was utterly shocked. He secretly glanced at Su Shixiao a few times and found him a bit familiar. After thinking for a few seconds, he realized he looked somewhat like Su Shizhi, Mr. Su, and the Su family’s younger young master. Compared to Mr. Su’s mature and steady demeanor and handsome, rugged face, and the younger Su’s lively, adorable, and delicate beauty, this second young master of the Su family was entirely calm and detached. Without a smile, he seemed utterly emotionless, giving him a very low presence.
No wonder the eldest young master of the Su family was so active in their circle, and even Su Shibei, the youngest master who was the focus of the Su family’s affection, was known to everyone, attracting many people who wanted to network with him. Yet, the second young master of the Su family had almost no presence in their circle; many people didn’t even know he existed.
The elevator arrived. Nan Yanzhou walked in, saw Su Shixiao still standing outside the elevator, and said sternly, “Get in.”
Su Shixiao sighed internally and stepped into the elevator.
“Does your brother know you’re working at my company?” Nan Yanzhou leaned against the wall and asked him.
“No,” Su Shixiao said. “Please don’t tell my brother. I don’t want him to know.”
Nan Yanzhou raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. “Mmm.”
The elevator fell silent, and the silence continued all the way to Su Shixiao’s floor. “Mr. Nan, this is my floor.”
Nan Yanzhou: “Mmm.”
Su Shixiao returned to his desk to continue the line art he hadn’t finished yesterday.
He didn’t see Nan Yanzhou again for the next few days.
Over these five days, Su Shixiao used online searches and consulted with surrounding employees. From line art to coloring, transforming it into a 3D model, and finally refining the game character, he completed the design of his first game character.
He left work on time today. Instead of going home, he drove to a bar to meet his friend.
He didn’t like going to bars, but his friend was celebrating his birthday there, so he had to go.
He rarely came to bars, but he knew his brother, his younger brother, and Nan Yanzhou were regulars.
The first time he ever came to a bar was when Su Shibei got drunk and called him to pick him up.
As soon as he entered the bar and saw the men and women dancing energetically on the stage, he couldn’t help but frown.
When he walked into the private room, he saw many unfamiliar faces, a few familiar ones sitting on the sofa drinking, and several people surrounding his friend, He Junsui, wishing him a happy birthday.
He Junsui saw him as soon as he entered the room and enthusiastically waved him over, “Xiao Xiao, come sit here.”
When He Junsui called him out, many people in the room turned their attention to him. After a few seconds, everyone in the room was looking at him. It was simply because he seemed completely out of place in a bar, or rather, a person as cool and indifferent as him wouldn’t be expected to be in a bar.
Su Shixiao rarely had so many people staring at him and felt a little uncomfortable, tightly pressing his lips together.
He walked to the empty seat next to He Junsui and sat down. “Happy birthday. The gift is at home; I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”
“What gift did you buy for big brother?” He Junsui asked, hooking his arm around Su Shixiao’s neck and smiling.
Su Shixiao expressionlessly pushed him away. “You’ll find out tomorrow.”
The private room grew lively again. Once everyone had arrived, they brought out the cake, sang “Happy Birthday,” ate cake, and some started smearing cake on faces, chasing and playing around. Su Shixiao dodged into a corner to avoid being accidentally hit.
A long-haired girl walked over to him with a drink and offered it to him. “My name is Huang Yanyan. What’s yours?”
“Sorry, I have to drive later, so I don’t drink,” Su Shixiao smiled politely. “Su Shixiao.”
“That’s okay,” the girl said, smiling as she withdrew her hand. “Why are you sitting here alone?”
Su Shixiao: “I like quiet.”
Su Shixiao stayed in the bar until past eight o’clock. He told He Junsui he was leaving and then walked out of the room.
He Junsui grabbed him and tried to prevent him from leaving, insisting he drink one glass of alcohol before letting him go. Su Shixiao eventually had to use a soft drink as a substitute for the alcohol.
After leaving the private room, Su Shixiao went to the restroom. As he entered the doorway, he saw Nan Yanzhou leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, his face flushed, clearly drunk.
“Brother Yanzhou.” As he walked closer, a strong smell of alcohol hit his nose. Nan Yanzhou didn’t respond, so he called out again, “Brother Yanzhou.”
Nan Yanzhou lifted his eyelids to look at him, but didn’t see clearly, thinking he just looked a bit like his friend. He said, “Shizhi, you finally came out.”
Su Shixiao’s face changed. His fingernails unconsciously dug into the flesh of his fingertips, and his voice was cold, “I’m not Su Shizhi. I’m Su Shixiao.”
Nan Yanzhou finally pulled himself together to look at him. Seeing that it really was Su Shixiao, he smirked and joked, “I didn’t expect you to come to a place like a bar.”
Su Shixiao: “My friend is celebrating his birthday here.”
Nan Yanzhou reached out and braced himself on his shoulder. His shoulder was suddenly warmed by the man’s body temperature, and he heard the man say, “My head’s a bit dizzy. Let me lean on your shoulder for a bit.”
“Mmm.” Su Shixiao obediently stood still and let him lean. His hands involuntarily clenched, and his heart rate sped up a little.
Su Shizhi came out of the restroom and saw Nan Yanzhou resting his head on a man’s shoulder. He frowned. “Yanzhou, what are you doing…”
As he approached and saw the man was actually his younger brother, he was surprised. “Xiao Xiao, why are you here?”
As soon as Su Shixiao heard his brother’s voice, he immediately pushed Nan Yanzhou away. Nan Yanzhou stumbled against the wall.
“…”
“Brother,” Su Shixiao replied. “My friend is celebrating his birthday here. I came out to use the restroom and saw Brother Yanzhou was drunk.”
Su Shizhi: “Then keep an eye on Yanzhou. You’ll come back with me later.”
“No need, Brother,” Su Shixiao immediately refused. “I drove here.”
“I’ll have someone come drive your car away later.” Su Shizhi didn’t give him a chance to refuse. After washing his hands, he walked straight to the restroom entrance. “Help Yanzhou and follow me.”