Chapter 7: Sleeping in separate beds?

After submitting the evaluation results in the system and finalizing the employment list with HR, the personnel department began the background check and grading procedures. The director approached Qi Yingzhu to confirm if he needed to reconsider.

After all, Qi Yingzhu hadn’t written a subjective evaluation. His attitude could be summarized as “hire him.” As for his specific opinion of Chu Fuxuan, no one could gauge whether it was good or bad.

Qi Yingzhu felt the director was overthinking things; his personal feelings weren’t that important.

It wasn’t like he was hiring a personal assistant he’d have to see day in and day out. This was a gap in the project team. Since the team felt Chu Fuxuan was a relatively good match, he respected the needs and vision of the frontline staff.

Besides, when browsing Chu Fuxuan’s portfolio, he constantly had a gut feeling that this person shouldn’t be let go to another company.

Chu Fuxuan was in the golden period of his career, and this golden period would be very long. For at least the next ten or twenty years, his name could be seen active in the industry.

There is a management strategy called talent reserve. It is better to keep potential stocks idle in one’s own pool than to let them be honed into a sharp sword by a competitor.

Furthermore, games are now rushing to go overseas. regardless of the current situation, globalization is an irreversible trend. It was rare that Chu Fuxuan had overseas experience, which might come in handy in the future.

Leaving aside strategies like internal struggles, from a recruitment perspective, it was mainly a lateral comparison with other resumes. Qi Yingzhu had noticed Chu Fuxuan’s unique advantages.

They had only met by chance, so it wasn’t like he appreciated him that much, and talking about liking him was even more cringe-inducing. Qi Yingzhu had merely objectively laid out his inclination.

If he really had to comment on Chu Fuxuan from a personal standpoint, Qi Yingzhu felt that the two were people from different worlds, and he truly had nothing to say.

His place was a stagnant pool of water, while Chu Fuxuan was noisy, erratic, and stubborn, seeming to never know that bumping into the south wall while jumping around would hurt.

That kind of vivid life seemed to exist in another dimension. Even though the environment here wasn’t relaxed, Qi Yingzhu couldn’t understand why Chu Fuxuan’s personality was like this.

He also considered that there was no need for deep familiarity. They were just superior and subordinate, one on the R&D line and one on the management line. He wasn’t even Chu Fuxuan’s direct supervisor.

Qi Yingzhu disconnected the remote program on his computer. There were still sunglasses and a baseball cap on the table, which he threw into the open suitcase.

[CEO Qi, I saw you went out busy tonight? Shall I ask the kitchen to make some late-night snacks later?]

The secretary sent an inquiry after getting off work. Qi Yingzhu replied not to bother; he would resolve it himself if needed.

After handling a day’s official business, there were basically no messages on his phone. He closed his eyes for a while but didn’t fall asleep, then picked it up to search: [What to do if you meet a scumbag on a blind date?]

Someone had long posted a similar request for help, and the replies in the thread were very unified: [Not running? And you still ask!]

Qi Yingzhu pondered. Given Chu Fuxuan’s posture, he probably wouldn’t run. Even if David asked him to buy a watch, he would probably spend money to eliminate the disaster.

It’s just that the greed of that kind of person is like a bottomless pit. If you indulge and feed them once, next time they’ll plan to eat even more.

He wondered if Chu Fuxuan had noticed. David was so attentive in front of him, with an expression like a hyena smelling meat.

Thinking of this, Qi Yingzhu felt a chill and lost his sleepiness.

Because Chu Fuxuan was, after all, only twenty-five years old. Apart from work, his daily life had no other variety. He belonged to the high-risk category for emotional fraud. How could he possibly detect a crisis in this regard?

Out of a moral baseline, he shouldn’t stand by and watch Chu Fuxuan jump into a fire pit. But what if Chu Fuxuan couldn’t find a boyfriend and didn’t return to the country?

Chu Fuxuan had indeed said such a sentence, indicating that at worst he would continue drifting. Qi Yingzhu immediately felt it was tricky.

Dou Can’s business level had been sliding consecutively, visibly unreliable. Should he change professions and play Cupid for Chu Fuxuan?

But unfortunately, there were no good goods among those who made games. Once they had money, they became weirder one after another. Just shaking hands with some people made Qi Yingzhu want to quickly disinfect with alcohol wipes.

After three days of deadlock like this, HR gave Qi Yingzhu a salary expectation, stating they would negotiate the annual package with Chu Fuxuan within this range.

Glancing at the base salary plus dividends plus stocks totaling several million, and then thinking about Chu Fuxuan’s subtle hidden risks, Qi Yingzhu’s heart sank.

He couldn’t possibly, as a newly appointed official who hadn’t produced results yet, first personally recommend a victim of a pig-butchering scam to the company.

So he let the secretary return first, changed his flight ticket alone, and then prepared to squeeze out time to have a serious talk with Chu Fuxuan.

After finishing his business, Qi Yingzhu went to the hotel restaurant for dinner first. The butler arranged a seat with a view for him, where he could see the bustling traffic on the street.

Actually, Qi Yingzhu caught a glimpse of Chu Fuxuan as soon as he got out of the taxi. Chu Fuxuan had his long hair tied up, glowing under the sun, making it hard not to notice him.

He watched Chu Fuxuan carry two bags of neat old items to a charity organization, and then turn to the supermarket next door half an hour later.

After finishing the steak, Qi Yingzhu was still in his seat and hadn’t left. He saw Chu Fuxuan struggling to carry the shopping bag, indulging in dawdling every two steps.

After a while, Chu Fuxuan came to the lawn. The whole person was probably pampered; doing a little physical work was like falling apart. Once he found a chair, he was unwilling to move.

Not far away, Qi Yingzhu observed for a while, unwilling to watch the lazy person rest his legs anymore. But just as he got up, he glimpsed Chu Fuxuan picking up the phone.

And that person’s attitude was respectful; he actually stood up immediately, forcibly squeezing out some remaining strength.

It seemed to be a call from family. Chu Fuxuan’s expression was vivid and affectionate. Even though lifting his arm was a struggle, he listened longingly to the voice on the other end.

Qi Yingzhu thought Chu Fuxuan would complain about his current situation, but no, Chu Fuxuan didn’t even sigh.

The other party was full of fatigue and worry, occasionally unable to resist rubbing his shoulder, but the movements were very restrained, afraid of being discovered by his parents.

Like some kind of sly small animal, injured and soft-limbed from pain, but making no sound upon returning to the nest, curling up on its own to lick its wounds.

Qi Yingzhu went downstairs. Coincidentally, Chu Fuxuan walked to the hotel porch and also noticed his figure.

Chu Fuxuan was clearly at a loss, but still pretended to be calm, blinking his eyes and coming over to greet him.

“You came to discuss my salary with me?” He spoke cautiously, but mixed with some expectation.

Actually, Qi Yingzhu prepared to talk to Chu Fuxuan to tell him what a pile of mud he met on the blind date, to persuade him to give up his unrealistic stubbornness.

So what if he admitted a mistake? Otherwise, wouldn’t it be too absurd?

But Chu Fuxuan looked at him, his eyes shining with a bright aura Qi Yingzhu didn’t understand. The cold water he was holding was taken back entirely before it could be splashed.

Qi Yingzhu suddenly felt those principles were boring, and coupled with having some related troubles himself, perhaps they could use each other.

“I changed my flight to next week. I have time to chat about your prenuptial agreement. Do you want to consider marrying me?”

This invitation was too bizarre. When the voice fell, Chu Fuxuan thought he was having auditory hallucinations.

He held his breath, dull for once: “What are you saying to me?”

Qi Yingzhu’s tone was very calm, as if discussing work with him, describing it briefly and appropriately, without a hint of personal color.

“It just so happens I’m also tired of being asked about these boring things. Last time a director tried to set me up with his junior, I didn’t want to deal with it so I said I liked men.”

Chu Fuxuan also had an impression of this matter. Qi Yingzhu’s answer had spread, and it could be heard even as far away as Silicon Valley.

Qi Yingzhu said: “The director took this matter very seriously, suspecting I was lying to undermine him, which somewhat left an unnecessary handle against me.”

Chu Fuxuan said curiously: “Were you not opposing him on purpose?”

Qi Yingzhu didn’t care, saying casually: “Marrying a man wouldn’t be.”

His motive was probably not just this rash. Perhaps marital status was one of the workplace labels, or perhaps his parents had exerted pressure to start a family, only to be fobbed off by him.

There was no need to get to the bottom of the superfluous parts. In short, he could reach a consensus with Chu Fuxuan.

Hearing this, Chu Fuxuan didn’t make a sound to confirm, because he didn’t quite dare to take this conversation… He discovered Qi Yingzhu wasn’t joking?!

What the hell, seeing this face at the head of the conference table at work, and then facing the same face after work?!!

Chu Fuxuan couldn’t imagine it, nor did he have the guts to imagine it. Even if a knife were held to his neck, he wouldn’t dare establish a relationship with Qi Yingzhu!

“Chu Fuxuan, what are you spacing out about?” Qi Yingzhu interrupted his shock, amused. “Did you think we were going to be together for real?”

Chu Fuxuan said decisively: “How could I offend you!”

“I didn’t plan to let you offend me either,” Qi Yingzhu said. “I’m afraid if you continue to fantasize, you’ll propose sleeping in separate beds, a restriction that wasn’t worth mentioning to begin with.”

Chu Fuxuan quickly proved his ideological innocence, wishing he could raise his hand to swear to the heavens.

“Sleeping in separate beds? That’s definitely part of the international convention. My sleep quality is super poor; no one can breathe next to my pillow.” He selectively forgot that he usually fell into a coma as soon as his head hit the pillow, and couldn’t be woken even by renovations upstairs.

Qi Yingzhu wanted to say he had trouble falling asleep, but didn’t expect his line to be stolen by Chu Fuxuan.

However, he didn’t get suspicious, looking at Chu Fuxuan’s righteous appearance: “I can wait for your reply for a few days. Anyway, you have my mobile number, it’s best to send a text message.”

Chu Fuxuan looked forward to Hongni notifying him to join the main force soon, saying: “Do I? I don’t have access to the corporate directory.”

Qi Yingzhu ruthlessly brought up old scores: “Last time you blocked the nouveau riche’s car, I called the number on your sticky note.”

Chu Fuxuan: “…”

There had been so much tossing and turning between them that he had almost forgotten about this.

His situation was already at the end of the road, but regarding Qi Yingzhu’s proposal, he couldn’t agree immediately.

“It’s too easy for you to want to get married, you can find anyone. With me, on the contrary, it will be a bit troublesome.”

Chu Fuxuan remembered how he had just described his boyfriend’s illness to his father, glanced at Qi Yingzhu’s profile again, and very implicitly started to retreat.

He spoke so gracefully, how could Qi Yingzhu know what his family was up to? He only indicated he didn’t think so, and incidentally pointed out that HR would find Chu Fuxuan to finalize the contract details.

“I don’t hope the lead planner everyone spent so much effort selecting, or rather, the candidate I personally recruited for the first time as CEO, runs away because of some problem with a fake marriage.”

Such a young and fundamentally simple executive indeed carried this layer of risk. Being financially well-off but burying emotional hidden dangers, he could fire the boss in reverse at any minute.

After Qi Yingzhu said this, Chu Fuxuan suddenly saw the light and looked at the other party with some admiration.

Why would David be unconvinced by such a career maniac? Look, this is the material for being a CEO. He has such a big-picture view; the single aristocrats in the project team would be moved to present a silk banner upon hearing this!

Chu Fuxuan was completely speechless. While he was digesting this information, Qi Yingzhu helped pick up the shopping bag on the ground, lifting it easily with one hand.

His figure was much sturdier than Chu Fuxuan’s. He obviously frequented the gym. His muscles looked very smooth, especially when exerting a little force, the veins on the back of his hand would become slightly more obvious.

Seeing this, Chu Fuxuan quickly said no help was needed, but when trying to grab the bag, his fingertips accidentally touched the back of Qi Yingzhu’s hand. Upon feeling the body temperature, he quickly retracted.

“If you didn’t drive, I can give you a ride, but it’s best to talk about some nutritious topics on the way,” Qi Yingzhu said. “For example, do you plan to find a lawyer for property notarization?”

Although Chu Fuxuan rejected the blind date object without thinking, at this moment he pretended to have many choices, putting on airs saying he hadn’t thought it through.

seeing him being so reserved, Qi Yingzhu also played big: “I also need to weigh the content of your agreement. I can’t agree to anything too excessive. You’d better give me a framework early.”

“What excessive demands could I have? At most, perfunctory acting in front of my parents,” Chu Fuxuan replied.

Qi Yingzhu lived up to having a big-picture view, planning for a rainy day: “What if you plan to act as a loving couple and need physical contact?”

Chu Fuxuan was stunned, hesitating: “My parents can’t possibly lie under our bed, there’s nothing to worry about. At most holding hands, this level should be okay?”

He felt the interaction he envisioned was common, not expecting Qi Yingzhu to reveal a doubtful expression.

“It can’t be that you didn’t hold hands with other kids in kindergarten, right?” Chu Fuxuan was curious.

Immediately he pulled the corner of his mouth in surprise, trying to tease: “CEO Qi feels this is still too much? Wow, such conservative men are rare. Considering the leader’s experience, we should indeed sleep in separate beds, otherwise we’d have to trouble you to sleep in a bulletproof vest.”

Qi Yingzhu didn’t accept the adjectives Chu Fuxuan used, sneering at this, speaking elegantly and high-soundingly: “I might be allergic to homosexuality, please just don’t touch me.”

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You’d better be. Don’t end up using a whole box of condoms in one night in the same bed with your wife.