Chapter 57.2
The test video sparked considerable discussion at Lu Yao’s company.
Everyone knew Lu Yao, so it was natural to be curious about the young man who appeared in his home and seemed close to him. After all, it was well-known that Lu Yao only had a younger sister, and from the brief interactions in the video, they didn’t seem to be siblings or friends.
Excluding all other possibilities, the only remaining, albeit unlikely, correct answer was an exciting one:
The CEO has a boyfriend, and they also have seen their CEO’s partner!
Gossip is human nature, especially when it involves a nearly perfect boss. Who wouldn’t want to indulge in it?
However, while everyone was discussing, they kept it discreet, never mentioning it openly and never letting it affect work. It was understood that discussing such things was just part of the office culture.
What no one expected was the follow-up. Once the video was uploaded to the official website, it quickly gained attention overnight. Lu Yao, Yu Le, and the dog Cotton made a small splash on the search pages.
The speed at which information spreads on the internet is formidable. The video’s popularity surged with continued shares and re-posts. However, while the promotional effect was far beyond expectations, the focus of the promotion began to stray:
[I just want to ask who selected the cast for this test video, they really understand me. Extra drumsticks, please!]
[I’ll buy it, is that okay?]
[More of this, I love it / color / color]
[There were quite a few things released earlier, can they all be tested? I’ll buy / color once I’m satisfied with the test]
[Is it just for the product? Don’t you have properties, malls, and cinemas? Can those be tested too? Not that I mean anything, just want to see the quality]
[Playing together at home? What game, can I join in?]
[Where did you find this gem? My suggestion is to have them both endorse it directly.]
[I just want to ask, if I buy it, will you send me a boyfriend to help operate the controller?]
[？？Your comments are off, but I won’t say anything.]
[He’s so beautiful, ah no, he’s so kind. I even want the dog to experience it too. Tears of emotion are streaming down my face.]
[Well, this should be allowed to be disclosed. My sister works at this company, and she says the man in the video is the big boss of their company… / kneel]
[？？？]
[The group boss?]
[Which one? The small or the big one?]
[Of course, the big one. What are you thinking?]
[Big or small… what kind of tiger-wolf description is this.]
[I’m so lucky to have the big boss and his little darling helping me test the product!! I’ll place an order immediately!]
[Wow, is this real? The CEO of a large group is so young and handsome?]
[It’s a family business, not something he built from scratch. Just born into a good family.]
[Oh, some people are so sour, can’t you clean up the vinegar yourself?]
[Has no one noticed the flower points? Don’t you really think it looks familiar?]
[Upstairs, code name, locust tree?]
[！！！]
[/ handshake / handshake]
[That’s them, right? I just took a screenshot and compared it with the photo repeatedly, and they match.]
[WDM, I thought it was just a promotional picture for a tourist area before, and now it turns out there’s a follow-up. I didn’t expect it to be real. Forget it, I’ll go to Lingyin Temple to make a wish / palms together]
[I’ve brought the image to you, no need to thank me. I recommend eating it with the video, delicious ~]
[No wonder when I saw the photo for the first time, I felt the image subtly revealed a kind of approachable temperament / kneel]
……
The small stir created by the so-called “tourist area promotional photo,” which had previously vanished, was revived and widely discussed.
Netizens have sharp eyes. They not only identified Daiwa Town from a single photo of an inn’s courtyard but also uncovered Yu Le’s identity. Many design award websites still feature his photo, making it easy to find out.
The news of his upcoming collaboration with Mr. Song at the end of the year also spread, leading to some inexplicable promotions.
Lu Yao didn’t mind this. After confirming there were no attacks on Yu Le, he stopped paying attention.
Yu Le, however, was quite amused.
In the evening, while Lu Yao was cooking in the kitchen, Yu Le eagerly read out interesting comments to him.
“Boss Lu, everyone says you’re handsome. Are you happy?”
“They also say you’re young and promising, a diamond bachelor.”
“Too bad you’re no longer single, minus 99 points.”
After finishing, he took a bite of a fried fish and chewed it crisply, enjoying it, “Wow, our Boss Lu’s cooking skills have improved again.”
Lu Yao placed the whole plate of freshly fried fish in front of him, “Eat less, we still have dinner later.”
Yu Le put away his phone, turned to the side, and continued eating while talking, “By the way, I remembered something. You still haven’t told me why you left the company to become an innkeeper in the mountains. Was it out of interest?”
Lu Yao: “I didn’t neglect the company; I just handed over tasks that didn’t require my presence to others temporarily.”
“……” Yu Le ate a small fish head, “Mr. Lu, do you need me to remind you that the latter part of your statement is the main point?”
Lu Yao smiled, pouring out the water used for washing vegetables, “It’s not interest, but to fulfill a promise.”
Yu Le: “What promise?”
“After retiring, my grandfather made a promise with his old comrades to meet up in the town every summer.”
Lu Yao explained, “Initially, they gathered every year, but over time, fewer and fewer came until, in recent years, he fell ill and couldn’t go. He was afraid that if old friends came and found him missing, they would think he was unreliable, so I had to go back and keep watch for him.”
Yu Le was taken aback and suddenly felt that the fried fish in his mouth wasn’t as tasty anymore.
He frowned, “But I stayed at the inn for a whole summer and didn’t see anyone… ah.”
“Yeah.” Lu Yao said, “No one came this year either.”
When older people break promises, it often leads to the worst possible assumptions. Lu Yao only mentioned the first part of the statement; everyone knew the implied second part but didn’t want to say it aloud.
No one came this year.
So next year, the year after…
Maybe they won’t come anymore.
Yu Le felt a blockage in his heart.
Lu Yao knew he was troubled by unresolved issues and had previously avoided telling him to prevent discomfort.
“It’s okay.” He, with wet hands, patted Yu Le’s forehead reassuringly. “Reunion and separation are a normal part of life. Regrets are something everyone must experience. We can’t control it.”
“But before separating, we should at least give people some time to say goodbye properly.”
Yu Le sighed, “Without even a chance to say goodbye, those waiting will always cling to hopeless hope. It’s so torturous.”
“If only there were a Bodhisattva to protect us.”
He picked up a perfectly shaped fried fish strip and muttered: “Or the Little Dried Fish God? I’d be willing to spend ten years not sleeping with Boss Lu to let Grandpa Lu meet his old friends once more.”
Just then, Lu Yao’s phone rang.
Yu Le finished the dried fish, put down the plate, and helped Lu Yao retrieve the phone from his pocket. When he saw the contact name, he was surprised. “Shen Yu?”
Lu Yao: “Answer it.”
Yu Le swiped to answer and turned on the speakerphone.
“Brother Lu?!” Shen Yu’s voice boomed, causing an ear-splitting noise.
“I can hear you.” Lu Yao clicked his tongue, “Don’t yell. What’s up?”
Shen Yu: “Calm down, calm down. Hoo—Brother Lu, let me confirm something. Is your grandfather named Lu Shanhai?”
Lu Yao: “Yes, what’s up?”
Shen Yu: “Did he used to serve in the military? On the coast? And then retired, making a promise with his comrades to meet up in the mountains every year?”
Yu Le’s eyes widened in surprise, and Lu Yao’s actions paused. He turned his head, “How do you know?”
Indeed!
Shen Yu excitedly slapped the table: “How would I not know? My maternal grandfather was one of those old comrades!”
“My grandfather has been ill in recent years, with a worsening memory. He always says he forgets things and can’t remember when asked. If not asked, he constantly murmurs about it.”
“If it were a few years ago, I could have asked my grandmother, but she passed away last year. I’m not often around him with my parents, so I don’t know much.”
“Just today, after bringing him home, I happened to scroll through Moments on my tablet and saw the photo of you and Xiao Yu in the courtyard. Opening the full-size image, it happened that my grandfather saw it and suddenly remembered!”
Yu Le’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and Lu Yao smiled: “It’s indeed quite a coincidence.”
“It’s great that he remembered. I’m relieved. Thankfully, we know each other; otherwise, I wouldn’t know who to contact.”
Shen Yu cheerfully said, “Hey, Brother Lu, what do you think? Can we arrange a meeting between the two old men?”
Lu Yao: “Where are you?”
Shen Yu: “At home, in Beicheng.”
Lu Yao: “I’m in Xuan City. It’s too far.”
Elder Lu is still in the hospital and can only move with difficulty, and Shen Yu’s grandfather clearly isn’t in good health either. It’s not feasible for either elder to travel far.
Shen Yu said, “Then what should we do?”
“Video call,” Lu Yao said, “After waiting so long, they should at least see and talk to each other first. As for other arrangements, we can wait until they recover.”
After hanging up, Yu Le cheered and jumped up to hug Lu Yao, “That’s great, Old Lu! The Little Dried Fish God is amazing!”
Lu Yao, worried about dirtying his clothes, held his hands in mid-air, “Be good. We’ll celebrate later. Let’s talk about something else first.”
Yu Le pulled back, looking at him with a cheerful expression, his mouth curving up to his ears: “Sure, what else?”
Lu Yao estimated, “It should be less than two minutes.”
Yu Le tilted his head, “Hmm?”
Lu Yao: “Quickly take back what you wished for earlier.”
