My Boss Always Flirts With Me - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Birthday

Fang Ci took a step back in the entryway, his mouth dry. He rubbed Qiumiu’s belly and added, “I picked out a gift. I hope you like it.”

He Chi had already seen the small box in the middle of the bouquet. He opened it to find a watch. The price was certainly not cheap for Fang Ci, costing tens of thousands of yuan at the counter. He Chi said, “It’s too valuable.”

Fang Ci understood his meaning to be that it was a bit expensive. To be honest, when he placed the order himself, his heart had bled a few drops of bl00d. But then he thought, a watch represents time and is very meaningful. Plus, since he was buying it for his boss with the monthly salary his boss paid him, it was a case of the wool coming from the sheep’s back, so to speak.

Fang Ci said, “A birthday only comes once a year.”

The watch was simple and grand, entirely black, with a very business-like feel. A small window on the left side showed the intricate gears inside, adding a touch of tech. He Chi’s thoughtful selection was evident. He immediately took off the watch he was wearing to put the new one on.

Fang Ci said, “Ah, it’s already so late. You can wear it tomorrow. It’s a hassle to put on and take off now anyway.”

He Chi listened to him and took the watch off again.

Fang Ci said, “I didn’t order a cake. I didn’t know how you used to celebrate your birthdays, so I kept it simple. You don’t mind, do you?”

He Chi paused slightly. “I’ve never celebrated my birthday before.”

Fang Ci felt a pang of awkwardness. “Oh, I see.” He stroked Qiumiu again.

He Chi placed the flowers on the table and said, “I used to live alone. I’d still be working overtime at this time of night. By the time I remembered, my birthday would have already passed.”

Though it was a simple statement, Fang Ci felt a sourness in his heart. He quickly adjusted his mood and joked, “Fortunately, we got off work early today, so we didn’t miss it.”

He Chi looked at him and said, “Yes, because this time I’m not alone.”

Fang Ci licked his lips. Damn, how does the boss manage to hit the bullseye with just one sentence? It made his heart pound like a drum, yet he couldn’t find a single trace of how the shot was fired.

“Is there another hat?”

Fang Ci was stunned. “A hat?”

He Chi pointed to the one on his own head. “This one.”

Fang Ci said, “There is one more.” The florist had apparently packaged them for a family of three. He unwrapped the last one and handed it to He Chi, watching him put on the rather comical hat.

The formal suit paired with the mismatched hat was both funny and endearing. Fang Ci couldn’t help but laugh and asked, “Want to take a picture?”

He Chi nodded. Fang Ci took a photo and saved it to his phone album: a slightly serious He Chi holding flowers, yet willing to wear a birthday hat.

He Chi was exceptionally cooperative today. His cooperation emboldened Fang Ci. “Smile?”

He Chi gave a slight curve of his lips. Fang Ci aimed his phone at him, secretly reveling in the moment. Why is he so obedient?

“Okay,” Fang Ci showed him the picture. “I’ll send it to you later.”

He Chi wasn’t used to taking pictures of himself privately, and his shoulders were even a little tense. But seeing Fang Ci’s face full of smiles, he felt it wasn’t a bad experience.

Fang Ci looked down at the photos on his phone, feeling content. The boss wasn’t suited for a noisy environment or complicated procedures. He shouldn’t try to push his luck by arranging too many things.

He found a vase in the kitchen cabinet, stopped He Chi from just shoving the whole bouquet in, and took a pair of scissors to trim the stems. Fang Ci stood at the wide dining table, wearing a white sweater. He looked soft and fluffy, as if he had melted into the yellow light. The whole house suddenly felt warm.

He Chi watched him trim the stems expertly. The flower branches were obedient in his fingers, each one almost identical, staggered in height, with neatly angled cuts.

He looked up at Fang Ci’s face, then down at his hands. The coolness he had carried from outside was now completely warmed away.

Neither of them spoke. One person was busy with the vase, and the other was cleaning the trimmed branches from the tabletop. The stark black-and-white living room had a new splash of color.

“Make a wish on it?” Fang Ci had his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his milky-white forearms, which made the colors of the flowers in front of him look even more vibrant. He pointed to the bouquet and made another small suggestion.

This time, He Chi didn’t cooperate. He shook his head slightly. “Forget it. I don’t have any wishes.”

Fang Ci nodded and took the vase to the small table in the living room.

“What would you wish for on your birthday?” He Chi leaned against the wall, his tone as calm as ever.

Fang Ci didn’t even have to think. “To make money.”

He Chi was slightly taken aback. “Is your salary… not enough?”

Fang Ci came to his senses and quickly waved his hands. “Isn’t becoming rich every working person’s obsession?” He thought about the things he said yesterday that He Chi had already implemented in the email. Having seen how serious he was, he was afraid He Chi would take a casual comment seriously, so he explained a bit more.

He Chi must have never lacked money since he was a child. Fang Ci had heard his speeches and knew that He Chi was building this tech company to fulfill a dream, which was naturally different from an ordinary working person.

I just want both, he thought. I’m that greedy.

After cleaning the table, He Chi went into the room to reply to emails. Fang Ci looked at his back, then patted the flowers in front of him and said, “Peace and well-being. May all your wishes come true.”

May all your wishes come true.

After He Chi finished his work, Fang Ci still hadn’t come into the room. He received a few blessings from acquaintances. Wei Lin even sent him a voice message. Originally, he had wanted to get He Chi to go drinking, but He Chi had refused outright. Following the principle that the birthday boy has the final say, and knowing that He Chi had a home to go to, Wei Lin had to let it go. But he couldn’t resist being a little snarky.

“How was your birthday today? With someone to keep you company, you’re so impressive!”

He Chi was concise, replying with a simple “Mm.” He maintained his cool and detached vibe. After thinking for a few seconds, he opened his photo album, found a picture of the bouquet, and sent it over, without any accompanying text.

Wei Lin replied with a “Bah, you shameless guy” meme, saying: [If you’re so great, send a picture of the two of you together (smiling face emoji)].

He Chi automatically ignored the message. Wei Lin sent a series of accusing emojis.

He scrolled further down and saw messages from his cousin He Yun, as well as from some clients, partners, and colleagues. But the chat boxes of the two people he was closer to by bl00d were completely empty.

The faint warmth in his eyes gradually faded.

Someone remembered his birthday and prepared a gift early on, while others had forgotten for decades and didn’t seem to care. The relationship between people is most afraid of comparison. Emotional feelings will eventually become quantifiable indicators, weighing heavily on a scale.

That night, they kissed again, which was unprecedented. Fang Ci was pressed into the bed, breathing heavily. He opened one eye just a slit and saw that He Chi’s eyes were wide open, filled with intense emotions. The desk lamp flickered, a tiny flame of a heart stirring within him.

Fang Ci sensed that He Chi’s mood was off and wanted to ask about it, but He Chi didn’t give him the chance. His tongue and lips were numb from kissing. After a long while, He Chi finally lifted his head, his right hand stroking Fang Ci’s hair. He stared at the glistening lips in front of him, licking away the wetness.

Like a big cat, Fang Ci felt his whole body melt.

“Are you happier now?” After He Chi got up, Fang Ci pulled the blanket up to his nose and asked in a small voice.

He Chi looked at him. “Hmm?”

Fang Ci said, “You seemed a little unhappy just now, didn’t you?”

He Chi was silent, then shook his head.

Seeing that he couldn’t get any information out of him, Fang Ci didn’t push. He Chi had things locked away in his heart, and he wasn’t the key to open him. Their relationship was one of friendship, more than friends but not dating. Maybe that’s what it was.

He took a couple of deep breaths and silently repeated a few times, I need to get used to this.

The lamp was turned off. Everything was silent. Fang Ci closed his eyes again.

After who knows how long, before sleep had even knocked on his door, Fang Ci secretly glanced at the clock. It read 2 a.m.

A wave of frustration, clear and sharp, suddenly surged through him in the dead of night.