My Boss Always Flirts With Me - Chapter 15
Chapter 15: A Thoughtful Mind
Fang Ci’s heart had been put through the wringer by He Chi over the weekend, so he tried not to overthink things.
Sometimes he felt it was great to just stay with He Chi, and other times he longed to go back to work to distract himself.
Monday arrived calmly, and Fang Ci threw himself back into the project. The AP smart machine product was in a new phase of development. During this period, the product line was focused on building prototypes, and Fang Ci’s occasional suggestions for modifications meant he actually had more free time than before.
After lunch, the team members gathered on the rooftop for coffee and discussed the product’s design.
“The original version was still the best. The touchscreen was very sensitive, and the curved screen had a large screen-to-body ratio, which is great for gaming,” Cheng Wen said.
Xiao Zhu: “Don’t you think that’s not very friendly to girls? It’s too easy to accidentally touch it.”
The team members chattered away, each with their own opinion. Cheng Wen asked for Fang Ci’s thoughts. Fang Ci said, “Gaming is a selling point, but the screen isn’t. I’m guessing they might reduce the screen-to-body ratio and focus on color accuracy instead. They probably won’t use a curved screen anymore.”
Cheng Wen was stunned. “No way. Wasn’t the curved screen already decided on?”
The team members weren’t sure what the final product would look like, as the product line wasn’t in their department. Cheng Wen bet right there and then, “I bet CEO He will keep the original plan.”
Xiao Zhu chuckled and stood next to Fang Ci. “I’m with little Ci-Ci. I trust him.”
In the end, this boring bet turned into a three-to-seven split. More people supported Fang Ci, with only three on Cheng Wen’s side.
Cheng Wen said, “A meal’s on the line. The losing side pays.”
Fang Ci smiled.
The bet didn’t last long, just the time it took to drink a cup of coffee. A message came through in the group chat: The CEO’s office had told the product line to “cancel the curved screen” and redesign the plan.
Cheng Wen pointed at his phone in disbelief. “No way, no way! He said they were going to finalize it last Friday!”
Xiao Zhu was laughing his head off on the rooftop. “You guys always deliberately bet on the wrong side, don’t you? Everyone knows little Ci-Ci is going to win!”
This time, even Fang Ci turned around, his face full of surprise. “Hey, you really have that much faith in me?”
Cheng Wen and the other team members also started to tease. “Xiao Zhu, you have a boyfriend, you know!”
Xiao Zhu scoffed. “You lost, so just admit it. Don’t spread nonsense.”
Then she immediately put on a demure face. “Of course, if you guys want to think of it that way, you can!”
The team members, loving the drama, let out a chorus of whistles. Fang Ci choked and quickly moved away. “Go joke around with Brother Cheng instead.”
Xiao Zhu laughed loudly and stopped teasing them. The group continued to chat as they went downstairs.
“…Old Cheng, you should learn from little Ci-Ci. He can always guess what CEO He is thinking. You’ve seen it happen so many times, right?”
Cheng Wen’s professional path was different from Fang Ci’s anyway. A little squabble was just harmless fun. He wasn’t angry and joined in on the self-deprecation. “Yeah, otherwise how could he have gotten promoted so fast? It’s like he lives in CEO He’s brain. They’re so in sync, it’s like he has a private 6G network connection.”
The team members really related to this. Ever since Fang Ci became a product manager, he was always one step ahead, able to guess what the boss was thinking. Even if he wasn’t always perfectly accurate, he was close enough to save the department from trouble.
He was the youngest in the group, but everyone respected him on important matters.
Fang Ci: “…It’s not that ridiculous.”
He then asked, “Don’t you guys usually try to figure out what the boss is thinking?” This question was a bit intimidating. The younger team members immediately clammed up, saying they were trying their best. But Cheng Wen, who was very familiar with him, spoke honestly.
“We can’t figure it out.”
Fang Ci was about to argue, but he fell silent. They were right. Sometimes, he couldn’t figure him out either.
There were still patterns to be found in work, but life was a bit harder. For example, in certain moments, he felt he had a special privilege with He Chi, but every time that little spark appeared, cold water would be thrown on it.
He couldn’t figure it out.
As they got closer to their desks, the topic of conversation had already changed.
It started because there was a robot in the hallway made of electronic parts. Many people were gathered around it, an unusual sight. Fang Ci was about to ask what was so interesting when Cheng Wen spoke first, “This is a great gift. We should start thinking about one, too.”
All the team members turned to look at Fang Ci.
Fang Ci: “…” He remembered what this was about.
The company had a tradition of giving gifts to the CEO’s office for He Chi’s birthday, which was also the company’s founding anniversary. This would seem strange in a traditional company, but as a startup, Zhiyun had its own rules.
To show their commitment, the CEO’s office had created some fun rituals. They would hold a birthday party for employees every month and give them gifts on various anniversaries and holidays. To show their appreciation, department employees would also prepare gifts each year. This back-and-forth was very harmonious.
It was said that He Chi had once wanted to cancel the employee gift tradition, but the CEO’s office had stopped him, saying it made things feel more personal. He Chi didn’t say anything more after that.
But that was the good thing about a startup: any gift was acceptable. Last year, the product department designed a cyberpunk painting that was now hanging in the large conference room. It was warm and fun, and since they made it for the company, everyone had a good time with it.
Just after praising their team leader for being the best at guessing the boss’s thoughts, Xiao Zhu passed the “prepare the gift” ball to Fang Ci.
“Little Ci-Ci, you have to think hard. Our team is counting on you this year!”
Fang Ci was embarrassed. He really had no idea what He Chi liked.
They hadn’t been married for long, but they had spent a decent amount of time together, and he still couldn’t figure it out. It couldn’t be… that he just liked to tease him.
So his afternoon was split in two: half of it was spent thinking about “the product plan proposed by CEO He,” and the other half was spent trying to figure out “what CEO He likes.”
For the past two years, they could give anything, but this year was a little special… a simple gift wouldn’t seem sincere enough.
He thought about it all the way until he was sitting in He Chi’s car after work, but he still didn’t have a conclusion.
Fang Ci stole glances at the man driving the car.
He Chi’s hands on the steering wheel were long and beautiful, with well-defined knuckles. The weather was cold outside, and with the warm air from the car heater, they were a little red. His black shirt moved up slightly when he raised his arm, revealing his prominent wrist bones.
He thought that, personally, he would give him a watch. Not because of a specific preference, but because it just felt right.
He decided to try a roundabout way of asking. “A friend of mine has a birthday soon. What kind of gift do you think would be good?”
He Chi seemed to be taken aback. He asked, “Male or female?”
Fang Ci: “Male.”
He Chi: “A very important friend?”
He sounded very serious. Fang Ci said, “Yes, quite important.”
The car stopped at a traffic light. He Chi paused for a few seconds before continuing. “Is he single?”
Fang Ci was a little confused. What did being single have to do with it?
He Chi looked at him.
Fang Ci said, “He’s not single. He has a high position.”
He Chi asked again, “How is his relationship with his partner?”
Fang Ci: “…Do you need to consider so many factors when giving a gift?”
He Chi: “Naturally.”
“If the person is single and values their personal quality of life, you should give them a gift that matches their status. If the person is married and values their family relationship, you can give them a practical gift that the whole family can use.”
It was a truly perfect solution. Fang Ci was filled with admiration.
He Chi’s gaze met his. Fang Ci decided to be honest. “It’s okay. The relationship is just so-so.”
“It’s mediocre and ambiguous,” he added. “I’m not too sure.”