What to Do When Mistaken for the CEO’s Brother? 48-49

Chapter 48

After breakfast, Murong Cheng went home to retrieve his laptop. The forum materials had already been sent to his email. Duan Shao, the ever-efficient CEO’s secretary, was truly impressive.

His college English proficiency exams had probably been the peak of his English skills. Now, three years later, understanding half the words in a sentence was considered a good day. Even if he recognized the individual words, stringing them together into a coherent sentence was a struggle.

Murong Yan was busy working, and he didn’t want to disturb him. Fortunately, Duan Shao returned shortly after lunch. The three of them sat together in the living room, Murong Cheng inching closer to Duan Shao.

“Hey, Duan-ge,” he said with a hopeful smile.

Duan Shao, ever perceptive, said, “This forum brings together leading scholars and companies in the field of intelligent technology. If there’s anything you don’t understand in the materials, just ask. We can go through it together.”

Murong Cheng licked his lips nervously. “I…”

“Oh, right, there’s a translation software. I’ll send you the installation link,” Duan Shao said, scratching his head. “You can just copy and paste the entire document. It’ll translate everything for you.”

Murong Cheng’s face lit up. “Thank you, Duan-ge!”

Although living nearby, his mother had just been discharged from the hospital, and preparing meals for Murong Yan was already an added burden, let alone Duan Shao as well. And the forum, starting late at night for three days, disrupted their usual routine. To avoid inconveniencing his parents, Murong Yan had Duan Shao arrange for a temporary housekeeper. Duan Shao rented a car and booked a hotel nearby, coming to the courtyard house during the day to review the forum materials with Murong Cheng and returning to his hotel at night.

Technology truly was a marvel. With the translation software, he understood about 20% of the material. The software not only translated documents but also provided real-time interpretation with subtitles during the forum. Language was no longer a barrier to communication.

The forum, endorsed by Murong Yan, was indeed fascinating. Even as an outsider, Murong Cheng was quickly captivated, his drowsiness forgotten. The more he listened, the more he admired Murong Yan’s foresight. Technology was the future, and traditional automotive companies would face increasing challenges. Integrating technology into their operations was essential for survival. Murong Yan’s focus on developing Guangyu’s technological capabilities was a strategic masterstroke.

Having promised not to join him, Murong Yan worked on his laptop while Murong Cheng listened to the forum.

The first 90-minute presentation ended past midnight.

During the twenty-minute break, Murong Cheng stretched and stood up.

“Taking a break?” Murong Yan asked, looking up from his laptop.

Murong Cheng nodded. “Yes.”

Murong Yan: “Are you hungry? Want something to eat?”

Murong Cheng: “A little. But Auntie Chen has gone home.”

Auntie Chen, their temporary housekeeper, had adjusted her schedule to their late nights, preparing dinner at 9:00 pm. But after three hours of intense mental activity, he was hungry again.

“What do you want? I’ll make something,” Murong Yan said, heading towards the kitchen.

Murong Cheng wasn’t expecting much from the CEO’s culinary skills. He didn’t seem to know how to mop a floor or wash dishes. How could he possibly cook?

He pulled out a packet of instant noodles. “I can make something myself.”

While he searched for a bowl, Murong Yan filled a pot with water and turned on the stove.

His movements were surprisingly efficient and practiced.

He held out his hand for the noodles.

Murong Cheng: “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

Murong Yan chuckled. “I can cook.”

Murong Cheng: “Then I’ll go back upstairs. I don’t want to miss the next presentation.”

Murong Yan nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll bring it up.”

Murong Cheng: “Don’t blow up the kitchen…”

Murong Yan: “…I won’t.”

He hurried upstairs, glancing back several times. Although the forum hadn’t resumed yet, a message from Duan Shao popped up, containing detailed notes from the first presentation.

Was this Duan Shao doing his homework for him? He quickly saved the notes and sent a thank-you message.

He was debating whether to check on Murong Yan in the kitchen when the second presentation began.

The first presentation had been by the CEO of a leading global tech company. The second was by a renowned scholar from a prestigious university, sharing his latest research findings. Academic presentations were usually dry and boring, but this professor was surprisingly engaging, explaining complex concepts in simple terms, even Murong Cheng, a complete novice, could understand the gist of it.

Shortly after the second presentation began, Murong Yan brought him a bowl of noodles.

The aroma was surprisingly appetizing. He was starting to believe Murong Yan’s claim of being able to cook.

It wasn’t just plain instant noodles. He had added vegetables and an egg, the yolk perfectly runny. The noodles were cooked just right, not too hard, not too soft.

Noticing his surprised expression, Murong Yan ruffled his hair and placed a bowl of cut fruit beside him.

“Focus on the presentation. I also make excellent hand-drip coffee. I’ll make you a cup later.”

He had instant noodles for a late-night snack, then, after a nap, cheese sausages and toast prepared by Murong Yan, along with his hand-drip coffee.

The next day, Murong Yan bought more groceries. Although still simple meals, the food was delicious, helping him stay awake and focused during the forum.

After three days of late nights and intellectual stimulation, he felt not thinner, but somehow heavier.

The forum hadn’t transformed him into an expert, but it had broadened his understanding of Guangyu, the automotive industry, and the world of technology.

As the last presentation ended and the forum concluded, the sky outside was just beginning to lighten. He wasn’t sleepy at all.

Murong Yan had stayed by his side throughout the forum. He looked up as Murong Cheng closed his laptop.

“Finished?”

Murong Cheng nodded. “Yes.”

Murong Yan: “Tired?”

Murong Cheng: “I think I’ve adjusted to the time difference. I’m running on US time now. Not tired at all.”

Murong Yan smiled. “Not tired at all? Then tell me what you learned.”

Being asked to present his “homework” made his heart skip a beat. “I’ll… prepare something,” he said.

Although Duan Shao had sent him detailed notes, he didn’t want to cheat. He genuinely wanted to share his own insights and discuss them with Murong Yan. But his notes were messy, and his mind was still processing everything.

Murong Yan didn’t press him, closing his own laptop. “No rush. Rest first, then organize your thoughts.”

Murong Cheng thought for a moment. “Actually, I do have some thoughts about Huaqian Technology’s decision to terminate their partnership with Guangyu. I’m not sure if I’m right, though.”

He was afraid he would forget, so he decided to discuss it now.

Murong Yan sat down beside him on the bed. “Tell me.”

“I think Huaqian’s decision, from their perspective, wasn’t necessarily a mistake. It wasn’t just about your father or Lingyu, or even about making more money,” Murong Cheng said thoughtfully.

Murong Yan’s eyes glinted. “Go on.”

Murong Cheng continued, “Given Guangyu’s target market and pricing, there’s limited room for upgrading the intelligent driving assistance systems. Continuing the partnership with Guangyu would have been stagnating for Huaqian. Technology should specialize and excel, but it shouldn’t be limited to a single application. The ultimate goal is to integrate technology into every aspect of our lives, improving our quality of life. Their move into smart home technology aligns with that goal. We don’t want people to experience the convenience of technology only while driving. We want to offer a comprehensive suite of products, expanding the possibilities.”

He could sense Murong Yan’s growing approval with every word. Encouraged, he continued, realizing how much he had learned in the past three days.

But when he finished, Murong Yan simply looked at him, saying nothing.

He felt a flicker of anxiety. “What do you think? Does that make sense?”

Although he had drawn these conclusions from the forum, Huaqian’s decision was the direct cause of his and Murong Yan’s dismissal. Was Murong Yan angry?

He took Murong Yan’s hand and gently squeezed it. “Yan-ge, why are you so quiet?”

Murong Yan held his hand. “I’m thinking.”

Murong Cheng: “Thinking what?”

Murong Yan’s lips curved into a smile. “Thinking… how to reward my wife for being such a diligent student.”

Murong Cheng blinked. “Have you decided?”

Murong Yan: “I have.”

Before he could ask what the reward was, Murong Yan lifted him into his arms.

“Since my wife isn’t sleepy, let’s wait a while before going to bed.”

Chapter 49

The evening after the forum ended, Murong Yan received a call from his father.

Auntie Chen had just finished cooking dinner, and Murong Cheng was upstairs, calling Murong Yan down to eat.

Just as they were about to go downstairs, Murong Yan’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and his face darkened.

“Isn’t CEO Murong coming down for dinner?” Auntie Chen asked, seeing Murong Cheng alone.

“He has something to do. He’ll be down later. You can go now,” Murong Cheng said, forcing a smile, his mind elsewhere.

Duan Shao had taken the day off, apparently visiting a nearby island. After Auntie Chen left, the house was quiet. Murong Cheng went back upstairs.

The call was shorter than he expected.

By the time he returned, Murong Yan had already hung up.

“Did your father ask you to go home?” he asked tentatively, noticing Murong Yan’s grim expression.

“No,” Murong Yan replied calmly, his head lowered.

“Then… did he ask you to return to Guangyu?”

Murong Yan shook his head. “He wants me to get engaged to Miss Ji, or he’ll permanently remove me from Guangyu.”

Murong Cheng frowned. “But you built Guangyu. Will the other board members agree?”

Murong Yan closed his eyes. “He’ll make them agree.”

The recent negative publicity had significantly impacted Guangyu’s stock price, and public opinion could be manipulated.

“What about the tech company you found? If you sign a contract with them, the good news should boost the stock price, and you can return to Guangyu, right?”

Murong Yan didn’t answer. He took a deep breath, his usual composure returning.

“We’ll see. I’m not planning to return to Guangyu anyway,” he said, pinching Murong Cheng’s cheek. “Come on, let’s eat.”

“What? You’re not going back to Guangyu?” Murong Cheng asked, startled, following him downstairs.

“Let’s eat first,” Murong Yan said, placing a chicken wing in Murong Cheng’s bowl, his eyes downcast.

Seeing his reluctance to talk, Murong Cheng didn’t press the issue.

But Murong Yan’s sullen mood dampened his own spirits.

He couldn’t help with the Guangyu situation. What else could he do to cheer him up?

After dinner, they sat together on the sofa, Murong Cheng taking Murong Yan’s hand.

“Want to go for a walk on the beach?”

They hadn’t been outside much this week, busy with the forum and the materials.

“Okay,” Murong Yan nodded.

The courtyard house was right by the beach. They stepped outside in their slippers.

On a calm day, the sea was peaceful, the waves gently lapping against the shore, a soothing rhythm.

The sand was coarse and rough, clinging to their toes.

The dim streetlights cast long shadows, their shapes gradually becoming clearer as their eyes adjusted.

They walked hand-in-hand along the beach.

Murong Cheng: “The tide has gone out. The shoreline is further away than during the day.”

Murong Yan: “Yes.”

Murong Cheng: “I wonder what time low tide is. It’s the best time for foraging. Have you seen those foraging videos online?”

Murong Yan shook his head. “I haven’t really paid attention to those.”

Murong Cheng stopped, looking around. “We used to come here every day when we were kids. We found so many things: seashells, snails, octopuses. We didn’t even need to go to the market.”

He let go of Murong Yan’s hand and walked towards a group of rocks, squatting down to search. Murong Yan followed, shining his phone’s flashlight.

Murong Cheng searched for a while. “The tide’s been out too long. There’s nothing left.”

He picked up a seashell. “Just this. I’ll check the tide times online. We can come back another day.”

The fan-shaped shell was white with dark patterns, shimmering faintly in the flashlight beam.

Murong Yan took it from him. “It’s beautiful.”

Murong Cheng traced the edge of the shell. “But it’s not perfect. It’s chipped. I’ll look for a better one.”

He continued searching. Murong Yan held the flashlight above him.

He didn’t find another shell, but a tiny light flickered nearby.

“A firefly!” he exclaimed.

Living in the city, he hadn’t seen fireflies in ages.

They were small, their yellow glow faint, but beautiful against the dark night.

“Let’s catch some,” he said.

They had nothing to carry them in. He searched the beach and found a discarded plastic water bottle.

“Are you afraid of bugs?” he asked Murong Yan.

Murong Yan shook his head.

But not being afraid didn’t mean he was good at catching them.

They chased the flickering lights. Murong Cheng quickly caught several fireflies, while Murong Yan, his hand open, let them slip through his fingers.

“I don’t want to crush them,” he explained.

Murong Cheng: “It’s fine. I’ll catch them.”

The bottle was soon filled with half a dozen glowing insects.

“A few more, just to make it an even number,” he said.

Murong Yan: “Are you going to keep them?”

The fireflies flitted around inside the bottle, their light transforming the ordinary plastic into a beautiful object.

Murong Cheng chuckled. “No, we’ll release them later.”

He held up the bottle.

“Make a wish. Make a wish on the fireflies, and then we’ll release them. Your wish will come true.”

Murong Yan chuckled softly. “Okay. Should I close my eyes?”

Murong Cheng nodded. “Of course.”

He closed his eyes. “I wish for all of Yan-ge’s problems to be resolved, and for him to be happy every day.”

He opened his eyes and looked at Murong Yan.

“Aren’t you supposed to keep your wish a secret?”

Murong Cheng blinked at him. “How will the fireflies hear you if you don’t tell them? You have to say it out loud, with sincerity.”

Murong Yan smiled. “Okay.”

Murong Cheng: “Your turn.”

Murong Yan took the bottle, his fingers brushing against Murong Cheng’s.

“I wish…” his voice was low and gentle, “I wish that next time I catch fireflies, I’ll be with Ah Cheng again.”

Murong Cheng pouted. “That’s not a real wish.”

Murong Yan looked at him intently. “That way, next time we catch fireflies, I can make another wish. And I can stay with my Ah Cheng, always.”

Lost in his dark eyes, Murong Cheng felt a lump in his throat. He opened the bottle.

The fireflies flew out, their lights dancing around them, illuminating the darkness.

“It’s settled then. We’ll be together, always,” Murong Yan said, his gaze unwavering.

“Yes, always,” Murong Cheng repeated, his arms circling Murong Yan’s neck.

Their lips met, a salty kiss, the taste of the sea on their tongues.

The vast ocean stretched before them, the sky and sea merging into one, as if they were the only two people in the world.

Lost in the kiss, Murong Cheng closed his eyes and made another wish, a silent wish on the fireflies, on the gentle sea breeze, on the rhythmic waves, a wish for him and Murong Yan, a wish for a happy future together, always.