My Boss Always Flirts With Me - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Names

As the press conference drew closer, Fang Ci became busy again. In addition to rehearsing with the guests who were about to arrive, he was also keeping an eye on the production line to confirm the mass production time. The R&D department had given him an update that the first batch of products would be delivered half a month after the press conference.

Fang Ci replied to the email and finished CCing the work-related content, then he received a new internal operations group file.

Xiao Zhu also saw it and asked, “Brother Cheng, have you signed up for the company’s social event?”

It was that operations email. It listed the time and place. Every spring, the company would hold a social event. It was voluntary to sign up. It was an idea from the CEO’s office to have a meal with another tech company, and it was called “enhancing relationships,” but in reality, it was for personal matters. Fang Ci had been with the company for almost three years, and he only attended the first one. He was dragged in by a colleague and felt dizzy throughout the whole thing.

Cheng Wen said, “Of course I did. It’s such a good opportunity. Single people have to join in on the fun. What if a miracle happens?”

“Fang Ci, are you going? Let’s go together?”

Fang Ci closed the page. “No.”

Cheng Wen: “Why not? You can meet more people. Even if it’s not for a relationship, it’s a good opportunity to poach some talent.”

Fang Ci’s heart skipped a beat. That’s true. But then he held himself back. “CEO He said he’s going to add more people to the department. We don’t have to poach anyone ourselves.”

“Aren’t you afraid of being beaten if you poach talent from other companies at a social event?”

Cheng Wen thought about it. That’s true. If everyone had that in mind, the social event probably wouldn’t happen in the future.

“Okay, okay, you’re right. A relationship is more reliable. Are you really not going to look for one?”

Fang Ci shook his head. When he saw Xiao Zhu smiling at him with her chin in her hands, he suddenly remembered the thing he had promised He Chi. So he said, “I have a partner.”

He threw the words out casually. Xiao Zhu and Cheng Wen’s eyes widened. Other team members who heard also looked at him a few more times. Cheng Wen said, “Damn it. Since when? So I’m the most pathetic one, alone forever!”

Fang Ci said, “Recently. Not long ago.”

Cheng Wen sighed loudly, rubbed his face, and wailed, “I hate it! Why did all of you stone people suddenly get into a relationship?”

A team member peeked out. “Don’t cry, Brother Cheng. Sister Xiao Zhu is also single.”

The smile on Xiao Zhu’s face froze. “Shut up!”

Cheng Wen asked Fang Ci again, “Do you have a picture of your partner? Can you satisfy our curiosity?”

Fang Ci looked at his watch. It was almost time for the report. He immediately picked up his laptop and said, “No, it’s a secret.” Of course he couldn’t let them know.

Cheng Wen saw that he couldn’t get any information, so he had to give up.

In He Chi’s office, the other department managers hadn’t arrived yet. Fang Ci was the first to report. He Chi asked two simple questions. After Fang Ci answered, the brief report ended. As he was about to leave, He Chi called out to him again.

He took two steps forward to He Chi’s desk. He Chi asked him to hold out his hand. Fang Ci was afraid someone would come in. He glanced at the door. Thankfully, there were no footsteps in the hallway.

He looked back and saw a piece of milk candy in his palm.

“Don’t drink too much coffee.”

Fang Ci’s eyes curved into a smile. He put the candy in his pocket. “Thank you, Teacher He.”

He had been drinking a lot of coffee lately to replenish his energy. He even changed his breakfast milk to coffee. He Chi was worried that he wouldn’t be able to sleep well at night, which was why he said that.

After putting the candy away, he also asked about something he cared about. “Did Teacher He take his medicine at noon?”

He Chi said, “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Fang Ci said softly, “The doctor said you have to take it for a week straight.”

He Chi looked up and saw his gaze. The words of refusal he was about to say were immediately swallowed back. “Okay, I’ll remember.”

As obedient as a big cat. Fang Ci smiled. Worried that someone might come in at any moment in the office, they didn’t continue the conversation.

The next person to come in was Yuan Cheng. He knocked on the door and entered. When he saw Fang Ci, he politely greeted him and chatted for a bit. “Manager Fang, you’re here. I was just about to look for you. The list of people from your team who signed up for the social event has been submitted. There are quite a few people. It won’t affect work, right?”

Fang Ci said, “The press conference is in the final stages of preparation. We won’t need to work overtime tonight.”

Yuan Cheng: “That’s good.” If it were before, he would have definitely asked Fang Ci if he wanted to go to the social event. He was so glad that he was now a part of the boss’s family and knew all about these things, which helped him avoid saying the wrong thing and stepping on a landmine.

Fang Ci was about to leave. Yuan Cheng held the documents and opened the door for him. Suddenly, He Chi called out his name: “Fang Ci.”

He turned around again.

He Chi said, “Have you told your colleagues?”

Yuan Cheng looked confused, looking left and right. What kind of a riddle was the boss talking about?

Fang Ci, however, seemed to have understood in a second. He obediently replied, “I’ve already told them.”

He Chi said, “Good.”

Yuan Cheng was wondering if he should close the door. He said, “…Why don’t you two talk first? I’ll come back later.”

Fang Ci smiled and said, “No need.” Yuan Cheng chuckled dryly.

Behind the desk, He Chi had turned back into the expressionless CEO. Yuan Cheng looked at his boss more than usual and couldn’t imagine how the two of them got along at home. With the boss’s poker face and his serious tone as a superior, wouldn’t he scare Manager Fang?

“Is there anything else?” Yuan Cheng’s report was finished. He Chi saw his lips move twice and thought he had something to say.

Yuan Cheng flinched. “No, boss.”

He Chi motioned for him to leave.

Yuan Cheng took two steps back, but he couldn’t control his mouth. He still spoke, carefully asking, “Boss, do you talk to Manager Fang like this at home, too?”

This question sounded quite bold, even more so than overstepping. But he had been by He Chi’s side for a long time, so he could still tell which topics were okay to talk about. CEO He seemed to be very good to Manager Fang and definitely cared about their relationship.

As expected, He Chi’s expression, aside from surprise, showed no signs of blame. “Is there a problem with… talking like this?”

Yuan Cheng said, “It’s not that there’s a problem with any specific words. I’ve heard you call Manager Fang by his full name several times, and it feels a little strange. Please don’t mind me.”

He Chi was silent, seemingly thinking about what he meant.

“Is there something wrong with using his full name?”

Yuan Cheng took a sharp breath inwardly. Oh my god, did I guess correctly by accident? Would Manager Fang not feel scared being called by his full name every day?

“As far as I know, people only use someone’s full name when they’re angry.” Simply put, it’s either when a parent is about to hit their child or when friends are arguing. In any case, it was too strange for the CEO to call him that.

The first time he heard it, he thought he had misheard. At that time, they weren’t in a public place, but in a private one. Adding this time… with a kind heart, he finally decided to remind his boss.

He patiently expressed his opinion and then said, “…That’s just how it is. A full name is too formal. A nickname sounds more intimate.”

He Chi was accustomed to being decisive, but he was also willing to listen to others’ opinions. Yuan Cheng’s words were very subtle, but the meaning was clear. As for the way he addressed him, Fang Ci had never raised any objections, and He Chi hadn’t paid attention to it either. Now that it was pointed out, it meant that there might be a problem, and he should pay more attention to it.

“I understand,” he said.

Yuan Cheng shut his mouth. He had said enough. He wasn’t a family counselor. He had said all he could. It was better to stay out of trouble.

He Chi was undoubtedly a serious and good student. When it came to marriage, there were still many unfamiliar areas for him. Every couple in the world, when they first get together, would use their parents as a reference and learn how to get along. This was precisely what He Chi lacked, and he could only make up for it later.

That night, Fang Ci noticed that He Chi kept looking at him from time to time, occasionally frowning. He didn’t understand why but didn’t have time to ask. He was trying to tie a tie. He didn’t wear suits often, and he was so clumsy at tying a tie. It was easier to memorize a script.

He Chi finished cutting the fruit and placed it on the coffee table. He asked him if he wanted to practice on him.

“Can I? I’m not very good at it,” Fang Ci asked.

He Chi said, “Up to you. We’re not seeing any guests tonight anyway.”

Fang Ci smiled and put the tie around his neck. He muttered, “The thick end is on the left, the thin end is on the right… go around the left collar and pull down.”

“Are you tying a double Windsor knot?”

Fang Ci said, “For formal events, a double Windsor knot is more dignified.”

He Chi: “A single knot and a double loop knot work as well.”

Fang Ci refused. He was always a little stubborn about his choices.

He Chi let him untie it and start over. After two more tries, Fang Ci still forgot the steps. He Chi held his hands and said, “Slow down. Don’t rush.”

The tie was wrapped around both of their fingers. He Chi said a word, and Fang Ci made a small loop. He slowed down his speech, making it clearer. The tie was tied without him realizing it.

He Chi couldn’t see it, so he asked, “How is it?”

Fang Ci smiled. “It’s not bad. Much better than the previous attempts.”

He Chi took the tie off. Fang Ci was stunned and tried to stop him. “No, I finally…”

The next second, the tie was on his collar. He Chi skillfully tied a knot. Fang Ci touched it. It was very neat.

“You don’t need to learn,” He Chi said.

Fang Ci’s fingertips felt a little hot. He understood the hidden meaning:

It’s enough that one of them knows how.

“Thank you for your hard work, Teacher He,” Fang Ci said, rolling up the tie.

The room was silent for a moment, but an intimate atmosphere was growing in the silence. They weren’t very close, but Fang Ci felt the air was thick and surrounded him.

He licked his lips.

He Chi didn’t lean in. He just straightened his collar, looked at him for a while, and asked, “Fang Ci, what do your family members call you?”

The topic changed too quickly. Fang Ci was slightly stunned, but he still answered, “As I got older, they mostly called me by my name. When I was little, they called me by my nickname.”

“A nickname?”

Fang Ci nodded. “Mhm.”

“So what’s your nickname?”

Fang Ci pursed his lips and asked, “Teacher He wants to know?”

He Chi said, “Is that not allowed? Is it a secret?”

Fang Ci said, “No, but not many people know it. Even Shen Liu doesn’t know.”

He Chi raised his eyebrows. He gently rubbed his chin with his thumb. It was very gentle yet very assertive. He said, “Tell me. I want to know.”

Fang Ci paused slightly. “My dad calls me Xiao Ci. My mom calls me Yuan Yuan. That was a name given by my elders.”

He Chi rolled the two words on his lips and said, “Yuan Yuan.”

Fang Ci: “It means ‘new beginning’ on the first day of the new year.”