My Boss Always Flirts With Me - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The Game

The two streets were close to each other, so Fang Ci didn’t even have time to report the day’s results to He Chi before they arrived home.

Yuan Cheng’s phone call followed right after. Fang Ci told He Chi to go on ahead and busied himself with his phone. He saw the components of a smartphone every day, and he recognized all of them, but he didn’t know how to repair them. He could only use the simplest method: let it sit and dry.

He found a sealed bag, filled it with rice, and buried his phone inside. It was a folk remedy that was supposedly effective.

When He Chi returned to the living room, he saw him rummaging through the pile of rice like a little hamster.

“What are you doing?”

Fang Ci: “My phone got wet. Rice absorbs water.”

Seeing his serious face, He Chi was speechless for a moment. He turned around, took a small box from the room, and motioned for him to hand him the phone.

The box was full of tools for repairing phones, the professional kind. Fang Ci was surprised and stared at He Chi for a long time. “Teacher He, you’re not a part-time phone repairman, are you?”

He Chi said, as he took the phone apart, “I participated in a tech innovation competition in college related to smartphone hardware, so I bought the tools.”

Fang Ci sighed, “There’s a competition like that?” He had never heard of it.

He Chi quickly checked the motherboard. “The chip is sealed, so no water got in. The motherboard isn’t corroded, but there’s a short circuit.”

Fang Ci estimated the repair cost and sighed, “I’ll just buy a new one. I wonder which model is more cost-effective now…”

He Chi raised an eyebrow at his words. “You’re going to buy a new phone?”

Fang Ci blinked. “Yes… ah.”

He then read the doubt in He Chi’s eyes, and it clicked for Fang Ci.

Zhuyun made tech products. He was actually going to buy a new one online and even pick a model…

As a smartphone product manager, he blushed and explained, “I was asking which model our company has in stock now. The new ones haven’t come out yet.”

He Chi: “We have some at home. You can pick one.”

Fang Ci opened the living room drawer and gasped. All the phone models since Zhuyun’s inception were neatly arranged in rows. Their house really didn’t lack electronics… It felt like a sudden fortune!

He took the latest model without hesitation, a black modular phone. It was super cool, with touchpoints on the back to add various modules, like a card camera or a power bank.

Most importantly, it was the same model that He Chi was using.

Hmm, it’s a couple’s item, after all!

He Chi watched him re-install the SIM card and asked, “Is the card okay?”

Fang Ci turned the phone on to check. “It’s fine.”

“So you didn’t call me because you forgot my phone number?”

Fang Ci’s hand slipped, and the phone almost fell to the floor. Luckily, there was a rug.

Oh no, I didn’t get away with it!

He quickly explained, “It’s inconvenient to take out the card without tools, and it’s not right to use someone else’s phone…”

He Chi just stared at him, his pressure unusually strong. Fang Ci couldn’t even finish his sentence and gave up, obediently admitting, “I didn’t memorize it.”

He Chi: “You need to memorize it.”

Fang Ci continued to obediently say, “Okay.”

But then he felt his authority had been diminished, so he defiantly said, “Teacher He doesn’t necessarily remember my number either.”

He Chi immediately recited a string of numbers, perfectly.

Fang Ci was stunned. His heart took a small hit. He quickly put on a smile and said, “Teacher He is amazing.”

He Chi seemed to take it to heart.

Fang Ci sighed with emotion: Teacher He is so cute. He’s so easy to please.

Since it was still early, the two of them went back to their respective tasks.

Fang Ci took his new phone and started going through his messages. A string of question marks from Cheng Wen was the first to pop up. Fang Ci explained to him that he had a new phone.

Cheng Wen: [I was just asking if you got home. CEO He couldn’t reach you this afternoon, and I was afraid he needed you, so I’m just letting you know.]

He added: [You don’t know, CEO He messaged me privately. I asked the CEO’s office, and they didn’t know what was going on either. It made my heart pound at 180 miles an hour all evening. I didn’t even eat well.]

Fang Ci was a little startled. He replied: [Sorry, Cheng, I’ll make it up to you with a meal next time.]

Cheng Wen: [No big deal. You don’t have to. Why don’t you give CEO He a call?]

Fang Ci: [I’ve already talked to him.]

Cheng Wen: [Oh, okay then.] The conversation ended there.

Fang Ci also accepted the friend request from Xiao Fan. Xiao Fan’s profile picture was as cool as he was, a black motorcycle helmet, and his username was just a period.

Out of politeness, Fang Ci greeted him, and Xiao Fan immediately replied: [Is your phone fixed?]

Fang Ci: [I got a new one.]

Xiao Fan: [How much? I’ll transfer the money to you.]

Fang Ci: [No need. We have a lot of phones at home.]

When Xiao Fan heard this, he didn’t insist and changed the subject: [Then let me treat you to a meal when I get back?]

This was just a polite gesture between them. Fang Ci didn’t take him up on it and said instead: [I’m too busy lately, so there’s no need for a meal. It’ll be a lot of work for you to make a few trips for the launch. Don’t blame the client for exploiting you.] The goal and position were very clear.

Xiao Fan sent an “ok.”

Fang Ci didn’t reply.

A moment later, a new message from Xiao Fan popped up: [You can team up with me to play a game.]

This person was truly fair.

After a moment’s thought, Fang Ci realized that the smartphone needed to be tested, and Xiao Fan’s team would be leading a friendly match with Zhuyun fans at the launch, so he didn’t refuse the offer.

Shen Liu found out that Fang Ci had signed the DEC team almost at the same time. He was a fan of Xiao Fan.

Fang Ci told him that Xiao Fan could play games with them, and Shen Liu howled into the phone, almost deafening him. “How did you convince him?”

Fang Ci: “Client benefits. This kind of gaming session isn’t cheap.”

Shen Liu: “How much did it cost?”

Fang Ci: “Five million.”

Shen Liu: “…Boss, do you think I have a chance to join DEC if I play well now?”

Fang Ci laughed. “A daydream doesn’t count as a dream.”

Shen Liu sighed for a while and then said, “Then can you ask him if he can play a round tonight, just one round, please!” He included a kneeling emoji.

Fang Ci hesitated for a moment. “I’ll ask. He’s going abroad tomorrow. I’m not sure if he has time tonight.”

Shen Liu sent an “eager” emoji.

Fang Ci glanced at the man who was working with his back to him not far away and sent the message.

He didn’t have much hope, or rather, he didn’t care if Xiao Fan agreed or not. It was just to make Shen Liu’s dream come true. He didn’t expect Xiao Fan to agree: [I have a flight tomorrow afternoon, so I’m free tonight.]

He even asked: [What game are you guys playing?]

Since things had come this far, Fang Ci could only go along with it. He created a small group chat to “make dreams come true.” Shen Liu was so excited he was about to scream. “Ci-pien, I love you! I love you deeply, my brother!”

Fang Ci: [Gross. Get lost!]

Shen Liu pulled another person into the game. Fang Ci saw that He Chi was still busy and thought, “I’ll just play one round with them first,” and logged into the game to make up the numbers.

The four of them formed a team. When they opened their microphones, the two of them cheered and whooped, almost screaming.

It showed that men who idolize stars could be scary, too.

The game they were playing was not the same one Xiao Fan played in esports competitions, but experts are proficient in all games. They started the game smoothly, leveling up with the professional.

Xiao Fan’s movements were incredibly fluid and astonishing. As soon as he landed, the fodder around him had already turned into boxes.

Shen Liu didn’t dare to yell in front of the expert, so he only talked to the other two players: “Awww! That’s so freaking awesome! I want to be his disciple. Do you think he’ll take one?”

“I feel so healed!” It was rare to see Shen Liu so happy, so Fang Ci just listened to him yell.

Being on a team with an expert was incredibly efficient. Their gear was constantly being upgraded, from 4x scopes to 8x scopes. Shen Liu and the others were basically just being carried to victory.

Fang Ci wasn’t playing the game for no reason. A person’s style can be seen in a game, and he wanted to get to know this guest’s personality for future collaborations.

After watching for a while, he saw that Xiao Fan was very decisive, making full use of the terrain and understanding the skill levels of the other players, all while taking a comprehensive view of the entire situation.

In short: A model captain.

Before long, Fang Ci had a judgment in his mind. As he played for longer, he temporarily let go of work and immersed himself in the game.

He didn’t even notice He Chi walking up to him.

It wasn’t until He Chi placed a glass of water in front of him and asked, “Are you playing games with Shen Liu?”

Fang Ci was in the middle of a gunfight on a container. He stared at the screen and nodded. “You can go to sleep first. You don’t have to wait for me. I’ll go to bed after this round.”

He Chi stood with his hands in his pockets, his eyes wandering over his phone for a moment. He finally “mm”-ed and went back to the bedroom.

Fang Ci jumped into the car to run from the toxic gas.

The game ended very quickly, taking less than half the time they usually took, setting a new record.

Xiao Fan asked, “Again? A different map?”

Fang Ci hadn’t said anything, but Shen Liu replied, “Okay, let’s jump into P City this time. There’s a lot of gear.”

In a flash, the few of them were on the plane again. Fang Ci looked at his watch and thought, It’s okay. They play fast. It’s not too late to play one more round.

Sure enough, Xiao Fan quickly led them to another victory. This time, he also provided commentary. Shen Liu said, “Wait, expert. I need to take some notes!”

Fang Ci found it funny.

So, the third and fourth rounds naturally began… They not only changed where they parachuted but also changed the map.

It wasn’t until the eighth round, when Fang Ci’s phone was about to die, that he glanced at the time next to him. “…”

It was clearly, brightly, and without a doubt, 2 a.m.

He was stunned for a moment and quickly stopped the restless Shen Liu, who seemed ready to play all night. “Don’t you have work tomorrow?”

Shen Liu: “…I can pretend I don’t.”

Fang Ci sent a “smiling” emoji in the group chat and decisively said, “We all have work tomorrow. Let’s go to bed.”

Xiao Fan had no objections. “Okay, I’m good with whatever.”

Fang Ci immediately logged off and tiptoed into the bedroom. The room was pitch black. He Chi should have been asleep by now. He took a deep breath, lifted the corner of the blanket, and slipped in.

He ended up right in He Chi’s arms.

He Chi was on his side, facing him, and the angle was just right.

Fang Ci held his breath.

The only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock.

Fang Ci slowly relaxed, but the arm around his waist suddenly became a little heavier. He quietly turned his head and, in the faint moonlight, saw that He Chi was frowning. He didn’t seem to be sleeping soundly.

“What time is it?” He Chi’s voice came right after.

He had guessed correctly. Fang Ci whispered, “A little after 2 a.m. Did I wake you up?”

He Chi replied with his eyes closed, “No, I wasn’t asleep yet.”

Fang Ci didn’t know what to say.

Then he heard He Chi ask, “Is that game… very fun?” When he said this, his eyes were already open.

Fang Ci said, “It’s alright.”

He explained a little more: “Didn’t I sign the DEC team captain today? He was free tonight, so we went online together. I thought I could see what the guest’s style was like, to make it easier to collaborate.”

He Chi: “The DEC team?”

Fang Ci: “Yes, a very famous esports team in the country. The captain’s name is Xiao Fan. Have you heard of him?”

He Chi naturally hadn’t.

Fang Ci held the corner of the blanket and started chatting. “I thought he would be hard to work with, but I didn’t expect him to be so easy to get along with. He’s very straightforward and doesn’t have many ulterior motives.”

“And I also found out,” Fang Ci thought for a moment and then said, “He seems to ride motorcycles too.”

He Chi’s head tilted toward him, watching him in the darkness. Fang Ci was facing the window, and the faint light made his eyes shine.

It made He Chi feel a little uncomfortable.

Fang Ci saw that he didn’t reply and thought he was tired. He quickly said, “Okay, I’m done talking. You don’t know him anyway. Let’s go to sleep…”

But before he could finish, he was suddenly speechless.

He Chi suddenly leaned in and sealed his lips with his own.

“Hmm?” Fang Ci’s eyes widened in the dark.

He Chi had trapped him completely.

After a long while, Fang Ci’s lips were still numb. He slurred his words and asked, “Teacher He, why… why did you suddenly kiss me?”

He Chi was silent for a moment and then said, “I don’t know.”