BF Chapter 38

Early in the morning, just after work started, Xu Shen’s secretary came in and told him some recently gathered information.

Huang Dexing had submitted his resignation to the board of directors and was planning to immigrate to Australia with his entire family.

“The Second Young Master is furious and says he won’t approve it, but if Director Huang insists on leaving, no one can stop him. Strange, wasn’t he still coming over here throwing his weight around and bossing everyone around just last week? Why the sudden change of heart?”

“He’s getting old, probably thought things through and decided to retire and enjoy his later years,” Xu Shen said as though it had nothing to do with him. “He’s quite sensible.”

As for Huang Dexing transferring his shares to Herong, word probably hadn’t leaked yet, though it most likely wouldn’t stay hidden for much longer.

His secretary said happily, “Once he leaves, another seat on the board will be vacant. Now the Second Young Master won’t have any more excuses to stop you from joining the board, Young Master Shen.”

Xu Shen leisurely nodded: “Mn.”

Huang Dexing’s resignation was already a foregone conclusion, and the proposal for Xu Shen to join the board passed smoothly. Xu Ziren had no more tricks left to stop him.

After returning home, Xu Shen was summoned to Xu Shiji’s study. Xu Shiji brought up the matter and encouraged him: “Work hard from now on. You’re still young, so don’t be too eager for quick success. Keep your feet on the ground and take things slowly. If there’s anything you don’t understand, be humble and learn more from the others. Get along well with your second brother too. Everyone is doing this for the good of the company, so don’t let outsiders make a joke out of us.”

Xu Shen obediently replied, “Don’t worry, Dad. I know.”

While the two of them were putting on a fine display of a loving father and filial son, Xu Ziren, who had returned a little later, knocked and came in.

Xu Shiji similarly reminded him that he and Xu Shen should work together as brothers. Xu Ziren gave no response to that, instead turning to Xu Shen: “Huang Dexing worked at the company for more than twenty years and always put the company first in everything he did. Now, all of a sudden, he insists on resigning and leaving. Does Fourth Brother know why?”

Under his icy stare, Xu Shen’s expression remained completely unchanged: “I wasn’t close to Director Huang. I only heard that his wife hasn’t been well, so he decided to retire and move overseas with his whole family.”

Xu Ziren scoffed, clearly unconvinced by that explanation. He simply laid his suspicions out in the open. “What I find strange is how coincidental all of this is. You had barely joined the company when Liao Zhihong broke his leg. Now that you’re about to join the board, Huang Dexing suddenly decides to resign. It’s almost as if they’re both being forced to clear the way for you. Liao Zhihong later told me that he was actually jumped by a group of thugs who covered his head and beat him. He still hasn’t figured out who he offended. And now Huang Dexing is leaving, but no matter how I question him, he refuses to tell me the real reason. He keeps dodging the subject, and it’s obvious there’s more to this. Did you do something behind the scenes?”

Xu Shen said innocently, “What does Second Brother think I could have done? Even if I dared to do something, what could I possibly do? I don’t know why any of this happened either. Maybe it really was a coincidence, or maybe there were other reasons, but none of it had anything to do with me.”

Xu Ziren didn’t believe him: “Really?”

Xu Shen remained firm in his stance: “I haven’t done anything I shouldn’t have.”

Xu Ziren’s gaze grew darker, but Xu Shen was unfazed, calmly meeting his eyes.

He genuinely wasn’t worried about Xu Ziren’s suspicions. Xu Shiji had investigated his background and as far as Xu Shiji was concerned, his record was perfectly clean. As long as Xu Shiji believed him, all of Xu Ziren’s suspicions amounted to nothing.

Sure enough, Xu Shiji frowned and cut off the rest of Xu Ziren’s interrogation before he could voice it. “Enough. Stop making baseless accusations. I just told you that you brothers need to work together. Everyone is doing this for the sake of the company. Stop fighting among yourselves and making yourselves laughingstocks in front of outsiders.”

Xu Ziren was unwilling to let it go, but there was nothing else he could do.

Xu Shiji dismissed him first, then turned back to Xu Shen: “You’ve been back here for some time now. Have you made any friends outside? I introduced Mr. Lin’s daughter to you before, but you didn’t seem very interested. I heard you found yourself a girlfriend. Who is she? What does her family do?”

Xu Shiji was suspicious by nature after all, so he pressed him with a few more questions. Xu Shen answered calmly, “Aside from people I’ve met through work, there isn’t anyone here I’m particularly close to. I met Nicky by chance before. She works as an administrative assistant at a small company in the Central. Her family background is ordinary.”

Xu Shiji wasn’t particularly pleased: “You’re still young, be smarter in this regard. Women are all more or less the same, so don’t take them too seriously. You’re my son, an ordinary girl isn’t good enough for you.”

Xu Shen humbly accepted the advice: “I was just playing around with her anyway.”

Only then did Xu Shiji stop prying: “As long as you know what you’re doing.”

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Half a month later, an unexpected personnel appointment caused quite a stir within Zhaoqi.

The Third Young Master Xu Zikang, who had never involved himself in company affairs, suddenly returned to the company to take up a position as deputy manager of the Administration Department.

When Xu Shen heard the news, he sent Zhan Shili a message. There was no immediate reply.

His lips curled down slightly. Seeing that his coffee cup was empty, and that his secretary had gone to Xu Ziren’s office to deliver some documents, he got up and headed to the pantry himself.

He had barely reached the doorway when he heard voices from inside. A few employees had gathered together and were gossiping about Xu Zikang’s sudden return to the company.

“Hasn’t the Third Young Master always stayed out of company affairs? I heard his health isn’t good either and he has to use a wheelchair to get around. Why did he suddenly come back?”

“No idea. But he’s a major shareholder in the company. Last time, when Young Master Shen was nominated as general manager of the Real Estate Development Department, he voted too. Maybe it was the chairman’s idea? I heard Assistant Zhan went to pick the Third Young Master up and bring him to the company around noon.”

“Who knows who he’ll support now that he’s back? Maybe he has plans of his own. I thought the chairman was planning to put Young Master Shen in an important position, but I guess an illegitimate son is still an illegitimate son. In the end, he’ll still have to step aside. Now even the Third Young Master, with his poor health, has come back. There’s even less chance of it being our Young Master Shen’s turn.”

Xu Shen walked in.

The employees who had been gathered around having afternoon tea and gossiping immediately fell silent and scattered.

Xu Shen walked over to the counter and absentmindedly made himself a cup of coffee. Just then, a reply from Zhan Shili came through on his phone: [I’ll come to your office.]

By the time Xu Shen returned, Zhan Shili was already waiting for him inside. Xu Shen casually shut the door behind him and locked it, then walked around his desk and sat back in his chair, setting down his coffee: “Explain what the matter is with Xu Zikang.”

“It was the boss’s decision,” Zhan Shili said. “I only found out after the boss called me back today. I asked the Third Young Master about it, and he said the boss wants him to come back and help you and the Second Young Master, telling me to teach him anything he doesn’t understand.”

Xu Shen sneered, “Help me, or help Xu Ziren?”

“Both,” Zhan Shili said frankly. “The boss probably wants to bring him in to balance out the way you and the Second Young Master are constantly at each other’s throats. A three-way balance is the most stable. There’s no need to overthink it. The Second Young Master should be more worried about you joining forces with him. After all, he voted for you last time, and he’s a major shareholder. The Second Young Master will probably pay more attention to him from now on. Him joining the company is actually good for you.”

Xu Shen asked, “You really only found out about this today?”

Zhan Shili fell silent for a moment, and Xu Shen was already on his feet. He walked around the desk, straddled Zhan Shili, grabbing his tie: “Tell me the truth. You were the one who suggested it to my dad, weren’t you?”

Seeing the displeasure in Xu Shen’s eyes, Zhan Shili admitted, “The Second Young Master has people watching you constantly now. Outside of the company, it’s difficult for me to even see you.”

Xu Shen shoved him and said mockingly, “That’s what you care about?”

Zhan Shili caught the hand tugging at his tie: “I told you. Him coming to the company benefits you.”

Of course Xu Shen knew that. He was simply unhappy about it. The thought that he would now have to deal with Xu Zikang even at the office irritated him immensely.

“Just bear with it a little longer.” Zhan Shili lightly patted his waist to soothe him. “You’re not even in the same department. You might not see each other that often.”

Xu Shen asked, “What about you? Now that he’s working here, is he going to cling to you and make you keep him company every day?”

Zhan Shili shook his head: “I don’t have the time either. Everyone has work to do, and there are too many eyes watching in the company. He isn’t bold enough to try anything.”

Xu Shen gave a cold scoff, “He isn’t bold enough, but you certainly are.”

He lowered his head, and bit his lips fiercely.

Zhan Shili lingered in Xu Shen’s office for more than half an hour. It was almost time to get off work.

Xu Zikang sent him a message asking whether he wanted to have dinner together. Xu Shen caught sight of it and forcefully pulled Zhan Shili’s tie knot upward, tightening it around his neck to restrain him. He was about to get up when Zhan Shili caught him with one hand, making him fall back onto his lap.

“Come with us,” Zhan Shili said. “Didn’t you say last time that you wanted to treat both of us to dinner as thanks? We’ll do it today.”

Xu Shen gritted his teeth and cursed, “So I have to tag along and pay for dinner too? Do you take me for a pushover?”

“So are you coming or not?” Zhan Shili asked.

Meeting his steady, dark gaze, Xu Shen reluctantly relented, “Fine. I’ll go.”

He called Xu Zikang and took the initiative to invite him. Xu Zikang couldn’t refuse, and after a moment’s hesitation, he agreed.

Only then did Zhan Shili pick up his phone and reply to the message.

Afterward, they headed downstairs and waited in the car for a few minutes until Xu Zikang came down as well. Zhan Shili got out to help him into the car. From the passenger seat, Xu Shen turned around and greeted him with a smile.

“Third Brother, how was your first day back at work? Getting used to it?”

“It was alright,” Xu Zikang said. “The other colleagues are all quite nice. If there’s anything I don’t understand, they help me.”

“True,” Xu Shen said. “Besides, Mr. Zhan is here. You can always ask him too.”

“Sit tight,” Zhan Shili said, already back in the driver’s seat as he started the car.

They drove out of the company, and ran into some traffic on the road.

Zhan Shili and Xu Shen spent most of the drive discussing the progress of the Real Estate Development Department’s projects. Xu Zikang, sitting in the back, couldn’t find any way to join their conversation. A vague discomfort settled in his chest. Several times, his gaze swept over Zhan Shili’s noticeably gentle profile as he turned to converse with Xu Shen. The fingers resting on his knees curled slightly.

The restaurant was the same rooftop garden restaurant Zhan Shili had once brought Xu Shen to.

Zhan Shili went to park the car while Xu Shen and Xu Zikang headed upstairs first.

As the elevator ascended, Xu Zikang took a moment to ask, “Ah Shen, do you know if Nic is particularly close to anyone at the company?”

Xu Shen looked over. Seeing the faint crease between Xu Zikang’s brows and his troubled expression, he asked, “Why are you asking?”

“I don’t really know how to explain it.” Xu Zikang’s gaze flickered as he lowered his voice. “I keep feeling like he’s becoming more and more distant with me, like his mind is always somewhere else. He always says he’s busy, and I know he really is, but he never seemed to be like this before. And that fragrance ornament in his car, he never used things like that before. One look at it and you can tell it isn’t his style; maybe someone else gave it to him…”

“You’re probably overthinking it,” Xu Shen interrupted. “Weren’t you the one who said before that Mr. Zhan isn’t that kind of person?”

Embarrassment crossed Xu Zikang’s face: “I know I shouldn’t think like this, but I can’t help it…”

“Stop overthinking things,” Xu Shen said dismissively. “You’re working at the company yourself now. Whether he’s really that busy, whether he’s particularly close to someone else, you’ll be able to see for yourself.”

“But—”

Xu Shen suddenly laughed: “I told you before that Mr. Zhan was not at all romantic and that it was amazing you were able to tolerate him; you even said you were used to it. Third Brother, it doesn’t seem like you’re being quite honest.”

Xu Zikang looked even more embarrassed and couldn’t find a way to respond.

“If that’s really how it is, you might as well dump him,” Xu Shen tilted his head and abruptly tossed out the suggestion.

Xu Zikang instinctively opened his mouth to say no, but the elevator had already arrived. The doors slid open, and Xu Shen pushed his wheelchair out.

And with that, the subject was dropped.

Xu Shen casually took out his phone and sent Zhan Shili a message.

By the time Zhan Shili came upstairs after parking the car, Xu Shen had already ordered. He made no mention of what he and Xu Zikang had just discussed.

The three of them ate and chatted casually at the table. Xu Zikang mentioned that returning to the company really had been Xu Shiji’s idea: “Father said he doesn’t want any bad blood developing between you and Second Brother, Ah Shen. We’re all family. He hopes I can help smooth things over between you two so we can run the company well together.”

Xu Shen smiled: “Then Third Brother will have to put a little more effort into it. Second Brother isn’t that easy to talk to. He might not be willing to give you face.”

Xu Zikang said, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way; I’ll just do my best.”

Xu Shen couldn’t be bothered to say more. If Xu Zikang wanted to play the good guy, he should at least have some idea of what he was actually capable of. The idiot didn’t even know his own limitations.

When the meal was nearly over, Xu Shen went to the restroom. He stood in front of the sink, leisurely rinsing his hands under the water. When he raised his eyes and saw Zhan Shili coming in behind him through the mirror, his gaze slid toward him.

Zhan Shili walked over: “You’ve been in here for like, half a day now.”

Xu Shen asked, “You left him out there by himself? Aren’t you afraid he’ll start getting suspicious again?”

“So that’s what that message meant?” Zhan Shili understood.

When he came upstairs earlier, he had received a message from Xu Shen containing only one line: [You’re about to get caught.]

Xu Shen smiled: “You don’t seem worried at all?”

Zhan Shili looked at him and asked, “If I really do get caught, does Young Master Shen think he’ll be able to get away with it?”

Now he was just being a hooligan.

Xu Shen pulled out a paper towel, dried his hands, and tossed it into the trash. Turning around, he caught Zhan Shili by the tie and wound it once around his fingers, and said jokingly, “Actually, I really want to see what kind of expression he’ll make when he finds out.”

“He’s still useful.” Zhan Shili emphasized.

Xu Shen clicked his tongue: “Of course, I know. You don’t have to keep reminding me over and over.”

Zhan Shili said, “Since you know, then rein yourself in a little.”

“Fine,” Xu Shen said, pretending to be sensible. “Our relationship can’t see the light of day, so I have to be magnanimous and not get jealous. When you go keep him company, Gege¹Gege here is used, the pinyin of “older brother” or occasionally “brother” in English, instead of the English term because this is what people in China use to call older young men, and sometimes it’s considered intimate. If I use the English terms, it’ll just look incestous…, I’ll behave myself and won’t cause you any trouble.”

Zhan Shili’s gaze faltered slightly: “What did you just call me?”

Xu Shen chuckled softly and leaned closer to ask, “Does it turn you on when I call you that?”

Zhan Shili remained unmoved: “Don’t you already know if it does or not?”

Xu Shen said, “I really don’t, so why don’t you tell me?”

Zhan Shili’s gaze slowly roamed over his smiling eyes. He paused, then finally said, “No comment.²it’s bold because it’s spoken originally in english (kind reminder hehe cause this hasn’t shown up in a while)”

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t/n: Advance chapters up to ch 62 are up on kofi shop~ ^^

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Continue Reading Ch. 39-62: click me <3

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  Gege here is used, the pinyin of “older brother” or occasionally “brother” in English, instead of the English term because this is what people in China use to call older young men, and sometimes it’s considered intimate. If I use the English terms, it’ll just look incestous…
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  it’s bold because it’s spoken originally in english (kind reminder hehe cause this hasn’t shown up in a while)