My Boss Always Flirts With Me - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: Exchanging Moves

The Southeast Asia production line was very important to Zhiyun. All new products were sent there for assembly, and as soon as Fang Ci arrived, the person in charge pulled him to tour the factory. The person was incredibly enthusiastic, giving a very detailed introduction. After the tour, he also planned to organize a team dinner. However, a major issue came up that day, and the managers held a meeting for five consecutive hours, so the dinner was postponed.

Fang Ci didn’t mind these workplace formalities; he was more interested in learning. He wasn’t very familiar with mechanical processes, so he took the opportunity to follow the R&D staff, watching and learning. By the third day, most of the issues were resolved, and he had learned a lot. Although he was still far from a professional, at least he wasn’t completely clueless when reading technical documents. The person in charge seized the opportunity and put the dinner back on the schedule.

Fang Ci couldn’t really refuse.

The location was a beachfront restaurant. When they arrived, the setting sun was a molten gold, and the brilliant golden light shimmered on the azure sea, making for a spectacular view. The person in charge told him this was the famous Golden Sand Beach, where countless beautiful legends were born. Most importantly, the seafood at the little restaurant was unloaded directly from the fishing boats, making it top-notch and delicious.

“Everyone who eats here will come back again,” he said.

Fang Ci smiled. “We call that repeat business.”

The person in charge nodded repeatedly.

While there was still light, everyone took a group photo on the beach, shoulder to shoulder. The three people on the business trip, including Fang Ci, stood in the center. After one group photo, they took many smaller group photos with various employees from different departments. The locals had a peculiar kind of enthusiasm. By the sixth group photo, Fang Ci’s face was stiff from smiling. He looked to the side and noticed that the media department and R&D department staff were picking up seashells by the sea and hadn’t joined the endless photo-taking.

Fang Ci finally realized what was going on. He was being treated differently. The R&D colleagues even waved at him, acknowledging his plight.

After the tenth group finished, the person in charge seemed to finally notice Fang Ci in the middle of the whirlwind. He pulled him out and explained, “Don’t blame them, you’re just too good-looking.”

The UV rays in Southeast Asia are strong, and the locals have darker skin, which made Fang Ci, standing in the crowd, look like a universally adored little white flower. On top of that, he had a good temper, so people naturally wanted to be around him. Fang Ci didn’t express any opinion. He would probably only intersect with these people once in his life, so he let them have their fun with the photos.

Everyone finally sat down.

Only after the lights came on at night did Fang Ci notice there was a band, making it a proper music restaurant where most customers ordered drinks. The person in charge also ordered a dozen beers. “It’s a company rule here—we have to finish them all.”

Fang Ci considered his alcohol tolerance to be decent, so he took the cup.

On the stage, a local band was singing. He couldn’t understand the lyrics, but the melody was beautiful, somewhere between pop and jazz. Fang Ci was mesmerized. During the second chorus, he picked up his phone to record a bit. The lights were a bit glaring, so he changed seats. As he moved, a person entered his camera frame. He was momentarily stunned.

“Hello!” Fang Ci recognized him as an employee from the department who had taken a group photo with him.

“Care for a drink? A mojito!”

Fang Ci gestured that he still had his drink, but the person didn’t leave. Instead, he leaned closer and said, “The Funny Band. They’re singing a love song. Have you heard their music back in China?”

As he spoke, the person’s eyes were fixed on him. Fang Ci was already immune to such looks. He wasn’t slow; the first sentence could be seen as a greeting, but any more was just an attempt to make conversation.

“I’m sorry, you’re interrupting me from listening to the song.”

The person was stunned for a moment. He seemed not to have expected to be rejected so quickly, but his mood was still good. It was rare to see someone so handsome in the company; Fang Ci was eye-catching just sitting there. He rubbed the ice water on his fingers, leaned against the table, and glanced intermittently at the person beside him, as if looking for a chance to strike up a conversation.

Fang Ci had already turned back to chat with his R&D colleagues.

“Is that guy trying to pick you up?” the colleague asked in Chinese.

Fang Ci: “Maybe he’s just bored.”

A colleague from the media department also came over to join in the fun. “Stay away from them. They know you’re only here for three weeks but they’re still rushing to get to you. They’re definitely not good people. It’s not for love.”

Fang Ci knew what they meant. The two colleagues clinked glasses with him.

“Hey, your WeChat is flashing,” the media colleague reminded him.

Fang Ci looked down. It was Shen Liu.

Messaging him at this hour…

Fang Ci opened WeChat. Two bold characters rushed into view: [SOS.] Followed by a string of over-the-top, dramatic emojis.

Fang Ci: [?]

Shen Liu went on a frantic typing spree: [Your president messaged me privately.]

Fang Ci tilted his head, put his cup on the table, and became serious: [What did he say to you?]

Shen Liu: [He asked if you told me anything before you left.]

Fang Ci was stunned for a moment, then he smiled slightly: [Oh, what did you say?]

Shen Liu: [I of course said no, and then asked him what was wrong.]

Fang Ci: [Oh.]

Shen Liu: […Do you have any other exclamations besides ‘oh’?]

He paused again, then said: [No, seriously, given our relationship, even if there was something, there’s no way I’d tell him. Doesn’t he know that?]

Fang Ci: [I think so.]

Shen Liu: [Then why did he still ask me?]

Fang Ci: [To make you message me.]

Shen Liu: [Sorry, I don’t get it.]

Fang Ci: [If we had really colluded, you’d panic, and then you’d come to find me. I might even panic too, and as a result, change my strategy or even confess honestly.]

Shen Liu: [Are you two playing Mission: Impossible?]

Fang Ci looked at the screen and burst out laughing: [Isn’t this just the AND/OR/NOT operators in Java?]

When faced with a conditional statement, if one or more conditions are met, you can proceed to the next step. He Chi must have something he couldn’t figure out, which is why he messaged Shen Liu, trying to reach a conclusion between “true” and “false.” In the past, He Chi would have just asked him directly. The data collection process was simple. But now that Fang Ci wasn’t giving him answers, he had to verify it himself.

Shen Liu sent an emoji of “falling over in disbelief”: [I’m done. This dog food of yours is way too tough on the teeth!]

Fang Ci humbly replied: [It’s alright, it’s alright.]

[Are you really going to be okay doing this?]

Fang Ci: [We’re not going to see each other for the next few weeks anyway.]

Honestly, Shen Liu didn’t think so, but he had never been in a relationship, so he didn’t feel qualified to question it.

…

On the other end of the screen, Fang Ci changed the subject, asking: [Do you still have that small group chat we used to play games in?]

Shen Liu froze for two seconds: [The one your guy is in?]

Fang Ci: [Mm.]

Shen Liu: [Yeah, what are you going to do?]

He Chi slept directly in his office today. Subconsciously, he didn’t really want to go home. It was spring, and the weather had warmed up, but the house felt no warmth, not even as much as a deep winter night. So when Yuan Cheng asked him again if he wanted to stay at the company, He Chi nodded. If there’s no difference, then let it be.

The specially designated rest area was no smaller than his bedroom at home. It was fully stocked with daily necessities, and even the sheets and duvet covers were the same black silk ones as at home. He could find a slight sense of familiarity.

Propped on one arm, he slid his finger on WeChat, habitually checking his messages. The pinned chat box was completely still, but there was a new post in his Moments. He tapped on it and saw a table full of dishes with the caption: [Dinner party.] It was posted by an employee from the media department who was on the business trip. He Chi had all of their WeChat accounts.

Fang Ci’s face wasn’t visible, so he didn’t linger. However, just as he was about to exit Moments, he noticed a row of beers conspicuously placed on the edge of the table. The milliliter markings on the cups made him frown.

Just then, a group chat message suddenly popped up.

He Chi saw that Shen Liu had sent a picture. This time, Fang Ci was in it, but not alone—it was a group photo.

[Ci Pian, which restaurant did you guys go to? Introduce it to me. I’ll go play there next holiday.]

After half a minute, Shen Liu seemed to realize he had sent it to the wrong chat. He recalled both the image and the text and said: [Message you privately, message you privately. (Pats Ci Pian)]

[Okay.] Fang Ci replied instantly.

He Chi sat up. Immediately after, he sent a private message to Fang Ci:

[I saw it. Who are you drinking with?]