Xiao Cheng was a bit puzzled. Although he did feel more like a spectator earlier when he walked in and saw that scene, the one who should truly be angry was Bai Yiheng, right?
After all, as Bai Yiheng’s assistant, instead of immediately helping his boss handle the situation, Xiao Cheng had just stood there watching the drama unfold.
He didn’t think he had offended that young man in any way, so why was the other party giving him such a hostile look?
Secretary Chen had been busy cleaning up the documents on the table just now. Finally, with a sigh of relief, she looked up and noticed that the young man still hadn’t left.
“What are you still doing here?” Secretary Chen was visibly annoyed now.
She understood far more than Xiao Cheng. Even though she hadn’t reacted immediately earlier, she now clearly saw through the young man’s intentions.
Perhaps he had watched too many TV dramas, but his scheme was classic—spilling tea or coffee to create a chance encounter. Bai Yiheng had encountered similar situations in the past. People even bumped into him deliberately on the street.
This time, Secretary Chen was stunned by the sheer audacity of someone doing this right in Bai Yiheng’s office.
No reasonable person would pull such a stunt.
Xiao Cheng didn’t say anything. He simply picked up the coffee cup and started preparing a fresh one for Bai Yiheng.
With reddened eyes, the young man sniffled and said, “I’m sorry, Secretary Chen. I’ll leave now.”
“But I wasn’t doing it on purpose.”
As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Bai Yiheng’s lounge, a hint of reluctance in his eyes.
After all, it had taken him a lot of effort to seize this opportunity to get in. Yet Mr. Bai had not shown him any kindness or even bothered to ask his name.
Seeing Xiao Cheng picking up the coffee cup, the young man cast him a resentful look before turning and running out of the office.
Xiao Cheng: ???
If you want to play favorites, could you at least be a little less obvious about it?
Secretary Chen rubbed her temples in frustration. “Sorry about that, Xiao Cheng. What a mess.”
It was one thing to encounter such people outside the office, but now even inside the company, there were those with ulterior motives.
Seeing that Xiao Cheng still seemed puzzled, Secretary Chen felt a tinge of affection for him. Using a tone like a big sister advising her younger brother, she said, “Xiao Cheng, if you ever meet someone like this again, make sure to stay far away.”
Xiao Cheng’s status inevitably attracted a flock of people with dubious intentions, and there was no shortage of those who wanted to take advantage of him.
Xiao Cheng snapped out of his thoughts. He was still mulling over the hostility in the young man’s gaze and couldn’t figure out where it came from.
“Thanks, Secretary Chen. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Secretary Chen initially wanted to tease him about whether he had ever been in a relationship. But she held her tongue since it was work hours and their boss was just a wall away.
When Bai Yiheng emerged from the lounge in a clean set of clothes, Xiao Cheng was no longer in the office. Only Secretary Chen remained, diligently sorting through the files to see which ones needed to be reprinted.
Without Xiao Cheng around, Bai Yiheng didn’t bother maintaining his usual warm facade. He rubbed his temples, his face darkening. “Secretary Chen, go to HR later and have that person terminated.”
Bai Yiheng didn’t even know which department the young man was from, nor did he care about his work performance. It didn’t matter. As long as someone harbored improper intentions, there was no reason to keep them.
If they didn’t dismiss him now, today’s incident would only be the beginning.
Secretary Chen nodded. “Understood, Mr. Bai.”
Even though Bai Yiheng had changed into clean clothes, he still felt like he could smell the faint scent of coffee lingering. It left him feeling uncomfortable. He asked Secretary Chen, “Didn’t we deal with someone like this before? Why are these people acting up again?”
Secretary Chen glanced at him briefly and noticed the fatigue on his usually sharp and handsome face. He must not have rested well last night, and this morning’s events had likely drained his patience further.
“Perhaps it has something to do with Young Master Xiao.”
Bai Yiheng immediately understood her implication. He lightly tapped his finger on the desk—his habitual gesture when deep in thought.
“Are the rumors going around really that bad?”
When he first brought Xiao Cheng to the company, he had anticipated some gossip. However, since no one confronted them directly, Bai Yiheng didn’t see the need to offer explanations.
But it seemed that this silence had only emboldened certain people, giving them the wrong impression.
“No one’s saying anything in the main group chats,” Secretary Chen replied.
But everyone had their private circles, didn’t they?
Bai Yiheng pondered for a moment. “Alright, let’s do this…”
Meanwhile, Xiao Cheng had gone downstairs to prepare Bai Yiheng’s coffee. Their floor housed only the CEO’s office and a few rooms for the executive team, so it didn’t have its own kitchenette.
Instead, he had to go down a floor to brew coffee for Bai Yiheng.
There was a dedicated cabinet for Bai Yiheng’s personal items. Normally, it was locked, and only Xiao Cheng and Secretary Chen had the keys.
As Xiao Cheng checked, he confirmed the cabinet was still locked, meaning the coffee the young man had offered earlier wasn’t what Bai Yiheng usually drank.
Facing away from the desks and chairs outside, Xiao Cheng focused on brewing coffee. Suddenly, someone squeezed in next to him.
“Xiao Cheng, what happened just now?”
Xiao Cheng turned to see Zhou Yun, one of the girls from the executive office, approaching him.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
Zhou Yun mentioned someone’s name and lowered her voice: “I saw him running out crying.”
She hadn’t seen that person enter Bai Yiheng’s office but had seen him leaving in tears. Shortly after, Xiao Cheng had walked out as well.
“He accidentally spilled some coffee,” Xiao Cheng replied, omitting the part where the coffee ended on Bai Yiheng. Still, Zhou Yun understood instantly.
She studied Xiao Cheng’s expression. “Was Mr. Bai angry?”
Xiao Cheng thought for a moment. “Probably not too happy.”
Bai Yiheng hadn’t lashed out in front of him, but his mood was evident.
Zhou Yun wanted to ask something else entirely. Since Xiao Cheng arrived at the company, many people have taken an interest in him. However, since he spent most of his time in Bai Yiheng’s office and always left with him after work, no one could find an opportunity to talk to him.
Finally catching him alone, Zhou Yun had a lot of questions. She knew slightly more than others, but only Secretary Chen was quite kind to Xiao Cheng. As for Bai Yiheng’s demeanor around him, she had no real insight.
“You and Mr. Bai often arrive and leave together.” Zhou Yun cleared her throat and carefully observed Xiao Cheng’s reaction. “Do you two live together?”
She was direct, practically writing her curiosity on her face.
Xiao Cheng glanced at her, noting the same gossipy curiosity in her eyes that he had displayed earlier when watching the office drama.
Suddenly, he realized why that person from earlier had looked at him with such hostility.
Xiao Cheng: …
They don’t think he and Bai Yiheng have some kind of relationship, do they?
Xiao Cheng’s expression turned complicated as he reluctantly replied, “Yes, because my family isn’t in City A, so my mom asked me to stay with him temporarily.”
“Your mom?” Zhou Yun blinked. “What’s your relationship with him?”
Met his family?
Xiao Cheng remained calm and resolute. “He’s my cousin.”
As if revealing a secret, he lowered his voice. “Don’t tell anyone. I don’t want people saying I got this job through connections.”
“Oh,” Zhou Yun said, a little guilty. “I won’t tell anyone.”
Yeah, right.
Xiao Cheng thought wryly. In no time, the entire company would probably know that he was Bai Yiheng’s cousin.
Well, maybe not the entire company. Perhaps Bai Yiheng wouldn’t know.
Now Xiao Cheng felt a little guilty too. Clearing his throat, he said, “I should head back up now.”
When he returned to the office, Chen had already left, and Bai Yiheng was working on some documents.
Xiao Cheng placed the coffee on the desk. Bai Yiheng looked up at him. “What took you so long?”
He had regained his usual gentle demeanor, his face carrying a hint of a smile.
Bai Yiheng had never been cold to Xiao Cheng, so Xiao Cheng wasn’t afraid of him.
“Mr. Bai.” Xiao Cheng explained what had happened earlier. As he spoke, it didn’t seem like a big deal, but looking back, it felt a bit awkward.
Bai Yiheng listened and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Then I should call Secretary Chen back.”
“Huh?” Xiao Cheng was puzzled.
“I told her the same thing earlier,” Bai Yiheng said, smiling. “Except I said you were my nephew.”
Xiao Cheng: ??
“We’re not that far apart in age!” Xiao Cheng protested.
Bai Yiheng had told him that their age difference wasn’t that big. How could he suddenly become an uncle?
Bai Yiheng still smiled. “I call your dad ‘Brother Xiao.’ By that logic, it wouldn’t be wrong for you to call me Uncle Bai.”
Xiao Cheng imagined that scenario and shuddered. It felt too weird.
Calling him “President Bai” or “Mr. Bai” was much better.
Xiao Cheng still had documents and emails to deal with, leaving him little time to relax or slack off.
Finally, by the end of the workday, he had a moment to stretch.
Bai Yiheng asked, “Do you have plans tonight?”
Xiao Cheng hesitated briefly before answering, “Yes.”
Bai Yiheng smiled. “I was going to treat you to dinner, but since you’re busy, we’ll do it another time.”
Xiao Cheng looked apologetic. “Sorry, Mr. Bai.”
“There’s no need to apologize,” Bai Yiheng replied. “After work, your time is your own.”
Xiao Cheng had arranged to meet Luo Jingshu.
Honestly, he hadn’t thought he’d ever willingly meet up with Luo Jingshu again after their last parting. But after what had happened last night, Luo Jingshu had helped him.
Xiao Cheng decided to thank him in person.
He chose the restaurant. Despite everything, his first thought was to pick a place with good food.
The day had already been unpleasant enough. He wasn’t going to let his stomach suffer too.
In the end, he chose a hot pot place.
When Xiao Cheng arrived, Luo Jingshu was already at the table. Perhaps considering Xiao Cheng’s recent recovery, Luo Jingshu had ordered a mild, dual-flavor broth.
Xiao Cheng carried a bag that looked quite heavy.
After sitting down, he handed the bag to Luo Jingshu. “Thank you for helping me twice. I wasn’t sure how to show my gratitude, so I bought you something.”
Luo Jingshu silently took the bag. His lips moved as if to say something, but he hesitated. Was this what their relationship had come to—such formal politeness?
Then again, considering Xiao Cheng had previously told him to get lost, even this gesture felt like progress.
Xiao Cheng’s lips curled into a faint smile. “You can open it.”
Luo Jingshu pulled out a box from the bag—a gift box tied with a small bow.
It was impossible to tell what was inside from the outside.
He glanced at Xiao Cheng. The other man’s face was obscured by the steam rising from the pot, but his eyes were clear and calm, carrying a faint chill.
Taking a deep breath, Luo Jingshu opened the box in front of Xiao Cheng.
Inside was a stack of books—a complete set of Five Years of College Entrance Exams and Three Years of Simulated Tests.
On top of the stack was a completely mismatched book. Its blue cover looked like something out of a philosophy or self-help section.
The title in bold characters read: The Taishang Ganying Pian1Taishang Ganying Pian (太上感应篇) is a classic Taoist text emphasizing moral conduct and karmic retribution. It teaches that good deeds bring blessings and bad deeds lead to misfortune, promoting self-cultivation and alignment with the Dao. Widely studied, it serves as a moral guide in Chinese philosophy..
Below the title was a small line of text: Good and evil bring their own rewards, like a shadow following the body.
Luo Jingshu: …
Xiao Cheng cleared his throat. “That one was a free gift with the others.”
He hadn’t chosen it on purpose.
He definitely wasn’t implying anything.
