KC | Chapter 13

“Mr. Lin, Chen Xi said he wanted to take 5 days of annual leave.” Just after finishing morning exercises, Wang Shuang came to complain to Lin Yiran again.

Lan Hai’s annual leave had a lot of rules. Within 5 years of joining, there were 5 days, 6 to 10 years 7 days, and more than 10 years 10 days. Annual leave was not allowed before holidays. Taking 2 consecutive days of annual leave required director approval, and taking 3 or more consecutive days required approval from a regional general office level leader or above.

“Oh, then take it.”

Wang Shuang had already been furious with Chen Xi yesterday, and this morning when she woke up her throat was smoking hot, clearly because she had gotten angry. Yesterday, when she told Lin Yiran the news that “Chen Xi was resigning,” it had been rejected on the spot. Wang Shuang thought Lin Yiran and Chen Xi were at odds, so this annual leave definitely could not be approved.

She had wanted to report Chen Xi today, and complain all the way up to his superior, but she had not expected Lin Yiran to approve Chen Xi’s annual leave so quickly, without even asking.

“Yesterday I tried to talk him down nicely, and in the end he said, ‘it’s just that you have issues with me,’ his temper is really something!” Wang Shuang was holding back a fire in her heart, and if she did not spit it out she could not get it out of her system. “I think he’s just planning to take the annual leave and resign directly after that!”

Lin Yiran had drunk with the client until half past midnight last night, and this morning he still had a case to handle. He did not have much time to explain things to Wang Shuang in detail like he had yesterday. He opened his MacBook, his expression faint. “Annual leave is a legal right of Lan Hai employees. Whether Chen Xi resigns or not has nothing to do with whether he takes annual leave.”

Just as Wang Shuang was about to speak, Lin Yiran said again, “Young people inevitably have a bit more temper. Maybe after resting these few days, he’ll think it over and come back without resigning.”

“I’ve finished approving the annual leave. Tell him to ‘rest well, and take care of his body.'” Lin Yiran typed on the keyboard with full concentration and did not even look at Wang Shuang. He was clearly “seeing her out.”

Wang Shuang was blocked so hard she felt like there was a lump of old phlegm stuck in her throat, unable to come up or go down. She left in a huff.

Lin Yiran answered an operations call, while arranging work, he also ordered himself a cup of black coffee. After drinking for two straight days, he was a little swollen this morning, and later he still had to go to the client launch event as a seated media guest speaker. He showed the outside world that he was sloppy and careless, and when socializing he could gulp down alcohol and meat without hesitation, but in truth he cared a lot about his image. Because in the early years, he had become famous in the advertising industry purely on looks.

KA media sales were numerous, and Lin Yiran relied on his appearance to stand out among the many media people. A good outward image would add points in negotiation and make the client remember him. Partners remembered him through his looks, and people in the industry spread the cases he had worked on through his looks. Over these years, one after another, there had been client operators who had never met him before, and when they saw him for the first time, they recognized him as Lin Yiran just by that one face.

Five years ago, when clients mentioned Lin Yiran, they often used “that handsome guy from Lan Hai.” Now, when the advertising circle mentioned Lin Yiran, they often used “the number one looks guy in North China.” Lin Yiran’s image, over these years without him noticing, had already become the outside world’s memory point for him.

Just like Lanling Wang removing his mask under the city walls to show his face and call for reinforcements, Lin Yiran’s outward image could remove the obstacle of breaking the ice with clients. Over time, Lin Yiran’s image became his brand.

The image from 10 years ago was given by heaven, the image from 10 years later was gained through self-discipline.

Being in KA meant a lot of social engagements, and on top of that, when people reached middle age, a thickening body was the norm. These years, in order to maintain his image, Lin Yiran strictly followed fitness and diet plans. After overeating, fasting for 16 hours would metabolize what he had eaten. If he had drunk the night before, then 16 hours after drinking, Lin Yiran would absolutely not eat anything, so the black coffee he ordered had no sugar.

If there were no social engagements at night or on weekends, Lin Yiran would spend most of his time working out, to keep his muscle lines.

The “number one looks guy” that the outside world saw was, in fact, the result of Lin Yiran’s highly disciplined self-control.

A highly disciplined person would rank his work every day into three levels, so as to ensure core projects advanced smoothly. Handling client problems was always the first priority; discussing new clients, maintaining old clients, and managing employees were the second priority; other events were collectively called “unimportant events,” placed at the very end.

Chen Xi’s matter should have been at the very end, but these past two days Lin Yiran had often thought of it while working.

He remembered that when Chen Xi had just transferred to KA, he could not even speak clearly. Lin Yiran had simply taken him as young and inexperienced, and had not thought of “my subordinate is secretly in love with me” at all.

Because they were both men, because Chen Xi was not “effeminate.”

Lin Yiran felt that gay men should be the kind of fake manly men who were effeminate, sleazy, spoke in a cutesy way, and were like eunuchs. Chen Xi only looked like someone easy to bully at first glance, but inside he was tough and decisive, and was completely unlike those sissy male hostesses in clubs.

When Lin Yiran had time, he carefully sorted through their past several times. The more he sorted, the more confused it became, and he thought: what does this young guy, who can barely say a few words to me, like about me?

Does he like that I’m old, does he like that my private life is messy, does he like that I talk nonsense?

Lin Yiran felt that aside from work, he did not have many good points, and could even be said to be rotten to the core, otherwise he would not have had to spend money to look for a host.

Could it be that he was lusting after my body, and likes this face of mine?

Lin Yiran finished the black coffee in one gulp and decided to do a few more sets of pull-ups tonight.

On a summer night, busy and noisy, Lin Yiran stood before the floor-to-ceiling window and looked out over the scenery outside, the bustling crowd, countless cars weaving through. It was now 21:00, and many people were still struggling for a living.

The moonlight outside the window reflected Lin Yiran’s sharp, angular outline. From the side, the smooth jawline, the shape of the protruding abs, and the legs level with the bar counter, stripping away the traces of time, he really was a handsome guy.

The large flat had a 7-meter opening, decorated with simple, textured panels, in black and white, matched with some modern ornaments, making the whole room look simple yet not lacking in style.

Fuhai Zhibang was considered a high-end development in Yucheng. The average price per square meter was 1.3 to 1.6 times that of the same area. This house was bought by Lin Yiran last year, and he only paid a 30% down payment, because he could not afford more.

After the divorce, Lin Yiran sold the house he had lived in before, gave half the money to Wang Jingjing, and used the other half to pay the 30% down payment for this current house. If he stopped signing deals, this house would have to be sold again before long.

Lin Yiran had once thought about saving up properly and living life well, but found that he was not suited for it. On the one hand, he had no intention of getting married, and in the future there would be no family or children, so there was nothing in particular he needed money for; on the other hand, consumption made him excited just like signing deals, and he wanted the best of everything.

He wanted expensive houses, the best-bodied bed partners, and the biggest share of budget grabs… The desire for beautiful material things forced him to consume more, and his demands on himself grew higher and higher.

Lin Yiran could not accept losing a deal, could not accept middle-aged body changes going out of shape, could not accept that his standard of living was not up to par… So, he would often set goals for himself, and break the goals down one by one to crush them.

Lin Yiran’s Adam’s apple moved. He drank half a bottle of electrolyte water to replenish the energy loss after exercise. His brain worked fast after exercise, and Lin Yiran was used to thinking about solutions to complex problems at this time.

Chen Xi had提出 resignation, not because of Wang Shuang, nor because of any work pressure or physical discomfort, but simply because he had slept with me.

He had originally wanted to talk to Chen Xi, but it seemed there was no need. Chen Xi obviously could not get over it.

Then how should he steady him and make sure he did not resign?

Chen Xi was wearing all fake-brand goods, and his living conditions were cramped. He could “create” some trouble and make him poorer, so he would have no choice but to keep working.

But if he lacked money, he could also change jobs.

If he looked for a next employer in the short term, he would mostly go to competing media, so he could “create” some negative things and make competing media not accept him, forcing him to continue working at Lan Hai.

“Poor” and “unable to change companies” were the necessary conditions to keep Chen Xi working at Lan Hai.

Although it was a little shameful, as long as it achieved the goal, it did not matter what the process was. Lin Yiran felt that it was feasible.

During the day Wang Shuang had said that Chen Xi was taking annual leave because he was not feeling well. He also did not know how he was doing now.

“Yi Ran as Fire: Are you feeling better?”

It did not go out, a red exclamation mark.

Lin Yiran chased clients for payments, and even went to the door to pressure them for debts. A negotiation expert had been slapped in the face by others, but had never been blacklisted by anyone before.

Chen Xi actually blacklisted me?

Lin Yiran’s temples throbbed, and the electrolyte water bottle was squeezed wrinkled and crumpled.

The negotiation expert’s pride was hurt, and just as he was thinking about how to save face, an unread message +1

“Morning Light: Are you sick?”

???

I was just thinking about strategies, and had not put them into practice on you yet, so how did you start cursing at me already?

Lin Yiran immediately thought again, “Are you sick?” was literal.

Chen Xi fucking actually disliked me!

First he was blacklisted, then the other side quietly released him from the blacklist and asked if he was sick. Lin Yiran’s anger surged up with a whoosh, and he cursed, “Little brat.”

The phone rang, it was a call from a friend in a competing media company’s upper management. Lin Yiran answered it.

“Brother Lin, today a kid from your Lan Hai came for an interview. On the resume, the key clients listed are almost all yours. Before, we attended the XX Real Estate launch event together. When it came to dividing up the budget, he was stuck there every day grinding it out, and that kid actually said XX Real Estate was signed by him, making it up so convincingly…”

Using my key clients on a resume, you’re really something. The clients I signed are all known by the old hands in the advertising circle, now without me even stirring things up, no competing media would dare take you.

Lin Yiran chatted briefly with his friend from competing media, and after hanging up, he lit a cigarette for himself in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside, traffic flowed like a river, all beneath his feet. The bustling city lay fully in view. Lin Yiran stood under the moonlight, the light and shadow crossing over his sharp side profile, half in the light, half in shadow. A master at controlling the situation was used to controlling clients, and often simulated client behavior in his mind, breaking down logic. Chen Xi’s next actions took shape in Lin Yiran’s mind as lines. Lin Yiran predicted Chen Xi’s behavior and provided corresponding solutions, and the solutions wrapped around each line, forming a dense net, tightly trapping the person, with no way to escape.

Lin Yiran exhaled deeply and blew out a ring of smoke. When the cigarette burned to the end, the empty flat echoed with a low murmur: “Want to run, do you?”

“You can’t get away.”