Chapter 9 – Gossip
Novel Title: 长夏醒迟 (Long Summer, Late Awakening)
Author：麦香鸡呢 (McChicken)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 余炀 (Yu Yang -MC/Gong), 靳吾栖 (Jin Wuqi -ML/Shou)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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Jin Wuqi has been busy lately with the finalisation of an acquisition project. During his time back in the country, he hasn’t had much time to rest. The company and its various branches abroad need to be quickly connected. There is also the expansion and planning of projects in new fields, all of which keep him busy negotiating with partners every day.
The acquisition this time is of a media company. Its competitors have already gone public and raised a lot of money. If it were to continue as is, it would only be permanently suppressed. So Jin Wuqi has acquired it into a company under the group, combining resources for mutual development, which is actually beneficial to both sides.
However, because this company itself has good development prospects, there have been many competitors in the acquisition process. The most notable of which is Song Zhimu.
At the beginning of the acquisition, Song Zhimu offered extremely attractive conditions, causing other companies to fall silent. However, Jin Wuqi valued the existing foundation of this company and its overseas development prospects. So he directly offered a higher acquisition price than Song Zhimu’s. When everyone thought Song Zhimu would continue his usual aggressive style, he withdrew from the acquisition competition.
“I thought Boss Song had some private relationship with that company, which is why you raised the price for it,” Jin Wuqi said, reclining on the soft sofa in the private room, smiling faintly.
Song Zhimu sat opposite him, chin in hand, staring straight at him and said with a smile, “Just like that auction, if I didn’t step forward to bid, how would Boss Jin notice me?”
“Why bother? We’ve signed the project, barely counting as partners. Or does Boss Song just love doing deals where he gives away money for free?”
“I don’t think of it as giving away money,” Song Zhimu’s gaze lingered slowly on Jin Wuqi’s face, “At least you’re willing to grace me with your presence for dinner, which is worth something.”
“Boss Song has honoured me.” Jin Wuqi smiled and gently placed his glass back on the table. “It’s getting late. Let’s call it a night here.”
Song Zhimu didn’t say much. He stood up, opened the door for Jin Wuqi, and then left the private room together with him.
“My assistant will contact you in the next few days about buying back that painting of mine,” Jin Wuqi said as they walked. “You can set the price again, even add an additional price to it.”
“Is this your way of cutting ties with me?” Song Zhimu asked with a smile.
“It’s not that. I just want to make a statement.” Jin Wuqi turned his head and smiled at Song Zhimu. “I don’t lack money. And I already have an alpha that I like. I don’t need either of those from you.”
Song Zhimu looked at Jin Wuqi’s smile and was startled for a moment. He then smiled back and whispered, “Meeting a worthy opponent is an honour of mine.”
***
The next day, Jin Wuqi received the painting sent by Song Zhimu’s people. He put the painting away and said to his assistant, “Transfer the money according to the auction price.”
If others didn’t know, they would think he was laundering money.
“Okay.”
With the returned painting came a news article featuring a photo of Jin Wuqi and Song Zhimu having dinner together last night. It was a picture with Song Zhimu seen helping Jin Wuqi put on his coat.
As a result, some people asserted that the reason Song Zhimu withdrew from the acquisition competition was due to an unusual relationship with Jin Wuqi.
Coupled with Song Zhimu buying Jin Wuqi’s painting at a charity event some time ago, this rumour seemed even more credible.
“People are so quick to spread gossip instead of focusing on important matters,” Jin Wuqi chuckled, dismissing the news without much concern as he closed the tab. He had no interest in wasting time on such things.
***
Yu Yang turned off his phone and changed into a set of workout clothes in the bedroom inside the office. He then went to the company gym with a cold expression.
The speed of the treadmill was increased as Yu Yang tightly pursed his lips. Sweat kept dripping from his forehead and face, soaking his loose white T-shirt quickly. His hair tips were also sweaty. He stared coldly at the numbers on the treadmill. Finally, he furrowed his eyebrows and turned off the power, walked off the treadmill, stood in front of the window with his head down for a long time. His chest rising and falling heavily. It was only after a while that Yu Yang opened his mouth and gasped for air.
He picked up the towel around his neck to wipe his face. But the frustration in his heart did not subside.
From the scar on Jin Wuqi’s body to Jin Wuqi’s question “Do you mind? I have been ‘marked’ by someone else” to the news this morning, Yu Yang almost found it ridiculous. Why did he delude himself into thinking he was in love with Jin Wuqi four years ago?
That night, taking the omega away in front of Song Zhimu, Jin Wuqi and Song Zhimu might have both secretly laughed at his immaturity. They might be laughing at his stupidity.
He had been fooled by Jin Wuqi once in high school. And now he was foolishly repeating the same mistake.
The phone rang. His assistant asked him to return to the office, saying someone wanted to meet with him.
“I thought there were no appointments today. Is this a last-minute one?”
“Yes. It’s Mr. Jin Wuqi.”
Yu Yang subconsciously tightened the towel in his hand and frowned. “Please ask him to come to my office.”
“Understood.”
Yu Yang pushed open the office door. Jin Wuqi was sitting on the sofa flipping through the files of Yu Yang’s company. The sunlight outside was good, shining brightly and clearly into the office.
Yu Yang reached out and pressed a switch. The isolation layer on the inside of the glass wall slowly descended, shielding the entire office.
Jin Wuqi closed the file and looked up at Yu Yang. He smiled teasingly, “Does Mr. Yu always keep things so private when dealing with others?”
Yu Yang expressionlessly closed the door behind him, walked to the sofa, and looked down at him, saying, “What are you here for?”
After being with another alpha last night, and now coming here today, Yu Yang felt that Jin Wuqi was truly absurd. It almost made him want to laugh.
“Didn’t your assistant tell you? We’re here to discuss business,” Jin Wuqi leaned back on the sofa, smiling as he looked at the alpha in front of him.
Yu Yang, sweating in his white T-shirt and sports pants, seemed like the high school student he was four years ago. He was exuding alpha dominance. There was no hint of coldness; instead, he appeared vibrant and full of vitality. His limbs were well-proportioned and slender, his eyes bright with the vigour of youth. It was a spirited and energetic look.
Jin Wuqi always remembered the Yu Yang from before. In their initial encounters, the coldness emanating from him was like wearing sturdy armour, impossible to penetrate. But now, as Jin Wuqi looked at his damp, drooping bangs and the impatience between his eyebrows, he suddenly realised that the boy who used to be as stubborn and awkward as a young wolf cub was still there.
It’s just that, due to various experiences, Yu Yang had hidden that side of himself, unwilling to face it again. And unwilling to be hurt again.
“What are we discussing about?” Yu Yang casually tossed the towel onto another sofa. “There’s currently no cooperation between my company and yours.”
“That can change soon,” Jin Wuqi reached for a bottle of water on the coffee table and handed it to Yu Yang. “You’ve sweated a lot. Have some water.”
As he tilted his head back, strands of hair fell across his face. His eyes always reminded Yu Yang of a lake at sunset—shimmering and bright yet hazy, crystallising into amber that encapsulated memories. It trapped him in many nights of nostalgic dreams, where regret and unwillingness were all he could grasp.
Yu Yang stood still, looking indifferent. “No need. I just had some.”
“Why do you always reject me for everything?” Jin Wuqi chuckled. “Can’t we just have a proper conversation?”
“Why should I?” Yu Yang looked at him calmly. “If you have business to discuss, get to the point. If you’re going to talk about meaningless things, I don’t have time to listen to them.”
Jin Wuqi chuckled again and placed the water back on the coffee table. He nodded lightly. “Fair enough.”
“I recently acquired a media company. Considering your company’s expansion into new areas this past year, there’s a need to rebuild and improve your corporate identity, especially in visual communication. It’s not a major collaboration. Just basic work. I want to give them some practice and see what issues arise in terms of division of labour and cooperation between employees after the merger. So we can resolve and integrate them as soon as possible.” Jin Wuqi pushed a document towards Yu Yang, who was sitting on the opposite sofa.
“Using my company for practice?” Yu Yang picked up the document and glanced at it, scoffing lightly. “Is this how straightforward you are in business negotiations?”
Jin Wuqi didn’t answer. He quietly watched Yu Yang, who was now looking down at the document. The lighting was just right, reminding him of the past when he used to watch Yu Yang, still a high school student, sitting at his desk reading books in casual attire. Yu Yang would often blush under his gaze and glare at him, telling him not to stare.
That summer was truly incomparable and irreplaceable.
As Yu Yang looked up and their eyes met, Jin Wuqi couldn’t say he had no regrets for leaving back then.
“This kind of project doesn’t require you to negotiate in person,” Yu Yang placed the documents on the coffee table. “There’s no need for you to come to me either. Let the department handle it.”
“But I wanted to see you. Since we’re done with business, can we chat about something else now?”
“There’s no need for that.” Yu Yang lowered his head to remove his fitness tracker. “I’ll pass the documents down. There will be relevant personnel to discuss the contract with you when the time comes. You can leave.”
“So, Mr. Yu has agreed to sign?” Jin Wuqi had already stood up while Yu Yang was speaking. He sat on the coffee table in front of Yu Yang, leaning back slightly with his hands on the glass surface, tilting his head to look at Yu Yang. “I didn’t expect doing business with you would be so easy.”
“We’ll talk about it when you have the contract ready,” Yu Yang replied in a business-like manner. “And please expedite the proposal.”
He stood up to leave after speaking. But Jin Wuqi raised one leg and rested it on the edge of the sofa, blocking Yu Yang’s path.
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*Author’s Note:
[Yu Yang is about to get angry]
[Another chapter will be updated later]
– McChicken
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*Translator’s Note: JWQ should’ve cleared the rumours. Now, YY is jealous for no reason hahaha. By the way, I don’t think that this novel is getting any roles in discord due to limited emojis so just know that I update every two days and will only write any news on delay or whatever on the chapter instead of discord. Thank you for your understanding. -K
Next update: 2024.04.17
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Link to Chapter 10: https://freenovels.net/long-summer-late-awakening-chapter-10/
