LA ⋆ Chapter 9: I Have a Plan

“You’re not the Cheng Ai I used to know,” Chen Siyu patted Cheng Ai’s back. “When it comes to love, you’re timid and shrinking. You’ve betrayed the Long Aotian persona. Where did that young domineering CEO go, the one who dominated the business world, the one who played mind games at the negotiation table, the one who verbally sparred with all those old men!?”

“You’re not the Chen Siyu I used to know either. You talk too much nonsense,” Cheng Ai glanced at Chen Siyu sideways, then sighed suddenly. “If only matters of the heart could be as simple as doing business.”

Chen Siyu: “Don’t you see that’s exactly your problem?”

Cheng Ai: “Huh?”

Chen Siyu: “You’ve turned your feelings for him into a business transaction.”

“Fuck.”

“I have a plan.”

“Tell me.”

“Given: he values work and money. Unknown: his sexual orientation. Obstacle: he admires Hua-ge. Current difficulty: he wants to job-hop.” Chen Siyu smiled wickedly. “I’ll just sacrifice a little and help you put on a show. In front of him, let’s pretend to kiss.”

“Ugh…”

“I’m leaving. See you.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Explain why.”

“First, this is like handing him a little leverage. Then you give him a raise and act like he’s got you under his thumb, sending him the signal that ‘if you keep my secret, your job stays secure.’ If he has any complaints, he’ll have bargaining chips to negotiate with. Compared to that, who’s going to bother job-hopping? Second, if he’s straight, you’re giving him a heads-up, letting him get used to it in advance, normalizing the idea of men kissing men in front of him. Third, if he’s bent, the atmosphere between you two will change. Trust me, feel it carefully. Three birds with one stone. Too good a deal.”

“Trust you my…,” Cheng Ai hadn’t expected the alcohol to hit this hard. A wave of dizziness washed over him, and his head dropped heavily onto the back of his hand. “Trust you, you devil.”

Chen Siyu looked at Cheng Ai’s hazy eyes and sighed repeatedly. Tsk, he’s actually doing unrequited love. This kid is actually doing unrequited love. Unbelievable.

The 18th floor, Cheng Ai’s office.

The stage was set, the actors took their positions.

Cheng Ai lost his nerve at the last moment: “Forget it. It’s pointless. There’s no need. Hua-ge was right. Life is suffering.” Cheng Ai clutched his chest and carefully contemplated the suffering of existence.

Chen Siyu was somewhat exasperated: “You’re doubting my expertise.”

“I’m not. I didn’t.”

The sound of the door lock turning came from the entrance. In a flash, Chen Siyu threw himself onto Cheng Ai, and Cheng Ai struggled hard, pushing him away. But it was all too fast and too brief.

Cheng Ai’s eyes were practically shooting sparks.

“You go out.”

After saying those words, Cheng Ai watched in slow motion like a film, watched Sheng Yao enter with a smile, bringing coffee, as if nothing had happened, as if everything that had happened was perfectly normal.

The world went silent for a moment, his ears muffled. Why was he opening his mouth? What did he say?

Distorted sound twisted into his ears: “Drink it while it’s hot. The boss said it’s not as spicy when it cools down.”

What? At a time like this, he only cared about the coffee?

Ha. Cheng Ai, you look like a joke.

Sheng Yao left, and Cheng Ai and Chen Siyu got into a fight.

“You fucking bastard, do you fight kangaroos every day in Australia?”

“You surname Cheng, you’re like the dog that bit the man who fed it!”

“Back! Back! Back!”

After Chen Siyu left, Cheng Ai discovered that on the job recruitment platform, Sheng Yao’s avatar lit up. He was currently online.

The fourth possible ending: Sheng Yao found it disgusting and fled.

A temporary dinner gathering. Cheng Ai decided to bring Sheng Yao along. If he really couldn’t keep him, this would be a farewell dinner.

In the changing room, he had only stood beside him and said a few words, and Sheng Yao flinched away.

Cheng Ai’s face was expressionless, but inside he was already burned to ash by rage. Yet what right did he have to be angry?

When sending Sheng Yao home, there was a small traffic accident. Sheng Yao cushioned his hand against the glass, and Cheng Ai was greedy for that one minute of embrace.

The cleaning lady at the company would spray air freshener, but Cheng Ai asked her not to spray his office, because he didn’t want any other scent to cover Sheng Yao’s scent.

Only then did he smell it clearly: what the scent was. Body wash, laundry detergent, sunlight.

Sheng Yao put distance between them again.

In the silent second half of the ride, Cheng Ai made a decision. He would actively fire Sheng Yao.

He was going to leave anyway. This way he could get a severance package.

Then he could keep an eye on which company he went to. He needed to work hard, aim to acquire it. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

When Cheng Ai sent Sheng Yao to his destination, he discovered an even bigger joke.

Sheng Yao wasn’t disgusted. Sheng Yao already had someone.

We agreed! You agreed with Hua-ge! We agreed! You said you wouldn’t pursue romance!

How could he already be living with another man!

The umbrella tilted up, revealing a young, handsome face. Sheng Yao squeezed into the small space under the umbrella, and the umbrella tilted toward Sheng Yao. The two of them huddled together and disappeared from Cheng Ai’s sight.

Cheng Ai got drunk again. Unfortunately, this time he drank himself into acute gastritis.

Forget it. He’d take a break, leave the rest to Assistant Liu to handle. He didn’t want to deal with it anymore.

When Chen Siyu invited Cheng Ai to go bird-watching, Cheng Ai had expected himself to be angry.

There was some anger, but undeniably, Cheng Ai had only uncovered another layer of truth.

So not pursuing happiness was just an excuse to brush off girls. Sheng Yao had been secretly happy all along!

Chen Siyu: “Turns out your intel was wrong!”

Cheng Ai and Chen Siyu huddled together looking at the enlarged photos.

In the photos, the two people leaned against each other like two intertwined trees, as if no one could ever separate them.

Cheng Ai’s heart gave a painful twinge.

“Don’t say it, his boyfriend is pretty good-looking,” Chen Siyu clicked his tongue. “Look, you’ve known him for years already. You didn’t pursue him, and now you’ve handed him over to someone else.”

Cheng Ai glared at Chen Siyu: “I’ll keep watching him until they break up.”

“Why don’t you just find someone else.”