Qingge Chapter 11

Chapter 11: At the Company [Translation/Editor: otwentyfirst]

[April 23, 2019]
...

The beau in question looked at his husband working hard. "Yujing," he called out.

Yujing had been reviewing some doc.u.ments when he heard the door open. Looking up he saw the person he'd been thinking about since morning. He immediately got up and went to hug Qingge.

Qingge had his hands full hanging onto the large bento box so all he could do was stand and be hugged. But when Yujing suddenly picked him up, he cried out in panic, his grip on the box becoming precarious. "Yujing!"

"Oh. Is that lunch? Are you tired? Hungry? Uncomfortable anywhere? Was your trip OK?" He laid Qingge down in a seated position on his lap as he sat down on the sofa.

It had only been a few hours, but lovesick fools will always feel like their parting had lasted an eternity.

Qingge had been on Yujing's mind all day. Did last night make him uncomfortable? Was traveling all the way here too much for him?

Qingge smiled slightly holding the bento box in his lap. Hearing the concern in Yujing's voice filled his heart with honey. As a result his voice was tender when he spoke. "I'm not hungry. I'm not tired. I'm not uncomfortable anywhere. I took a cab over. My body handled it fine. Don't worry. I'm fine. The trip was fine."

"How about I have someone chauffeur you. It might make it easier to get around." Yujing was like a fool drunk on seeing his love smile and be happy. He wanted to give Qingge everything he had.

Qingge laughed. "No that's OK. I'm weak, not disabled. Besides I want to get a driver's license later. So there's no need for a chauffeur. It's fine, honest. I like coming here to see you." Qingge raised his head and tilted his chin coquettishly, looking at Yujing. "I like that you treat me so well."

Yujing's brain immediately filtered the conversation and latched onto something he could help with. "Driver's license? I can help arrange that. After all there's no need to rush for university examinations. You can study for your driving exams first." He laughed thinking about it. "After you get one will you visit me every day at work?"

"Of course. Is there a computer I can use?" Qingge said before suddenly making a sound of exclamation. "Ah! I forgot my backpack. Are there any books I can read here?"

"There are books on the bookshelves. Feel free to use anything in the office." Yujing handed his laptop over as he said, "Here, you can use my laptop. Also your const.i.tution is still very weak. Don't drink too much caffeinated stuff like tea or coffee. If you get hungry or thirsty, there's the soup and fruit salad. Make sure to not overeat though, OK? You should only drink hot water. If you need something just stick your head outside the office and call for Chen Han, he's my personal a.s.sistant. You met him the other day. I have an executive meeting to attend but you're free to stay and have a look around. You should make sure to only drink hot water.

Qingge nodded as he listened only speaking after Yujing finished. "Yujing, I know, I know. I'll be fine. Go to your meeting. Don't worry about me."

Yujing really was treating him like a child, but despite his long-winded nattering, Qingge didn't mind or feel offense over it. It showed Yujing cared, only someone who loved you deeply would go to all that trouble to lecture you like so. Qingge's thoughts on the matter were simple: If he's good to you, you should be good to him. Why be offended?

After Qingge saw Yujing to the door he returned to the couch and picked up the laptop, intent on returning to his ma.n.u.script. It had delighted him that the story was so well received. In fact it was so good he had earned a contract with Jinjiang for it. He could now legitimately call himself an author.

Work on a sequel, make money, support Yujing!

Outside Yujing stopped a.s.sistant Chen Han from following him into the meeting. "Little Han, you don't have to follow me into the meeting. Send Secretary Liu instead. I want you to go to buy some sweet desserts instead. Avoid anything with mangos, gooseberries, or green dates. Get lots of fresh sweet desserts."

Chen Han was Yujing's undercla.s.sman in college. He followed Yujing to the company after graduating and had been working as his a.s.sistant since. Chen Han was a sharp fellow, so when he heard this strange order he knew it was for the Boss's beau, after all it is said that eating can help alleviate tension and anxiety. But Chen Han felt it was unnecessary. From what he could tell the Boss's beau was a laid back easy-going young man unlikely to be anxious about being in the office. Nevertheless he replied with, "OK, got it Boss," as he handed Secretary Liu the doc.u.ments for the meeting.

...

While Yujing was in the middle of the meeting Ningyu was playing hooky like the carefree slacker he was. He wasn't at all worried since Yujing was on the clock. A workaholic like Yujing wouldn't drop the ball at such a crucial time.

The sun was already setting by the time he pulled into the office parking lot. He spotted a.s.sistant Chen Han carrying a bag and immediately became curious. "What happened? Yujing doesn't need you in the meeting with him? Why are you out and about?" When he noticed the bag he reached over asking, "What do you have there? Something delicious?"

Chen Han was familiar with Ningyu's personality. He immediately pulled the bag to the side, out of Ningyu's reach.

"Don't! Chief Shen this is for the Boss's beau. I have to go in and give this to him. Please excuse me."

"His beau? You mean his sweetie? He's here?" Ningyu's interest was piqued. He hadn't gotten a good look when he arrived. Yesterday was a bitter day of company-sitting, so he couldn't do anything then either.

"He's in the Boss's office."

They were walking as they talked so in no time at all they reached Yujing's office.

Qingge was enthusiastically eating his fruit salad while working on his story inside the office when he heard a knock at the door. Not wanting anyone looking for Yujing to wait he immediately called out, "Please come in."

The pleasant voice surprised Ningyu. Is his voice the only thing pleasant? Let's see if this young master is the rich, overbearing, ent.i.tled kind. I'm totally going to warn Yujing to be careful if he is!

To the disappointment of those on the floor Chen Han closed the door behind him, completely cutting off their view, not letting them peek inside.

"Young Master Lin, allow me to formally introduce myself. I was Chief Duan Yujing's undercla.s.sman in college, now I'm his personally a.s.sistant. He asked me to get these desserts for you, but he also said not to eat too much at once." Chen Han proceeded to retrieve them from the bag.

An excited and sparkly-eyed Qingge watched as they were laid out tantalizingly one by one in front of him. What is this "could not eat too much?" Then why buy so much?! Wasn't this just teasing him?!

"Please just call me Qingge. Did Yujing ask you to send all these to me?" The salad bowl he had been cheerfully eating was placed on the table, its popularity dramatically decreased. Desserts! Desserts! Desserts!

"Then please forgive my manners; I will call you Qingge then. If there is anything you need, please let me know." Chen Han couldn't help but smile at how delighted Qingge was over the desserts.

"Oh! Thank you both. It's unlikely I'll be able to eat all this. May I trouble you for a cup of hot water?" Qingge swallowed the drool that was pooling in his mouth. He stood up to reach for a dessert, impatient to munch on the strawberry mouse.

"Just hot water? Are you sure? We have other drinks, black tea, green tea, coffee." Chen Han tried his best to keeping from laughing aloud at Qingge's obvious impatience.

"Yes, just hot water. Yujing doesn't want me drinking things like tea and coffee right now."

Chen Han was surprised and it showed. This made Qingge laugh. He said, "I can't drink them for health reasons."

"Oh, I see. Of course, of course. One moment while I get your water." The poor guy! Even tea, he can't drink.

Ningyu was immediately by Chen Han's side when he came out.

"So?"

"…," was Chen Han's silent answer. If you want to know, then go inside and find out for yourself.

"What did he look like? What's his personality like? This ball and chain to our Boss." Ningyu asked, eyes s.h.i.+ning with antic.i.p.ation eagerly awaiting gossip.

Chen Han gave Ningyu a sideways glance. He spoke as he continued to the break room. "If you could find a mate as good as the Boss's, then maybe your eldest brother would stop worrying so much."

Chen Han's relations.h.i.+p to Yujing was different from other people in the building. They were closer for having gone to the same school, plus as his personal a.s.sistant, they tended to spend more time together. They were more like friends then boss and subordinate.

He had only spent a few minutes with Qingge, but he could tell Qingge didn't put on airs like a young master of a rich family. He seemed to genuinely care about Yujing. Upon hearing he shouldn't eat too many sweets, he hadn't raised a fuss, merely wrinkled his brow in disappointment. He was a simple person. No wonder the Boss likes him. No wonder the Boss wasn't interested in dating anyone all these years. With a treasure like this, why look for anyone else?

"What? That good?" Ningyu stroked his chin in thought as Chen Han returned to the office.

"Qingge, your hot water." As Chen Han held the cup of water out to Qingge he noticed the fruit salad sitting on the desk. Out of curiosity he asked, "Did my Boss make that?"

"Yes, want to try? Yujing's pretty good at cooking," said a now more generous Qingge. Since dessert was on the table, he didn't mind sharing. He smiled lightly as he pushed the salad over, trying to entice Chen Han. He wanted to show off his husband's skills!

Chen Han dispensed with formalities. He grabbed a fork and immediately poked at a piece of fruit. "Mm! It's really tasty. Thank you. Say do you want me to show you around the company? This is your first time here correct?"

"No. It's alright. I imagine you must have tons to do. I'll wait here for Yujing. Don't worry. There are plenty of things I can occupy myself with." Qingge politely declined in favor of playing on his computer.

"OK. If you need anything just let me know. I'll be right outside the office. Boss will surely hurry back and return after the meeting." Chen Han smiled as he left the room.