The Daily Struggle of a Corporate Slave 45

Chapter 45

Although they were alone in the elevator, Jing Ciying felt a sudden, inexplicable tension as Pei Songji entered.

He had prepared what he wanted to say, but now, seeing Pei Songji, his mind went blank. He just stared at him, as if afraid he would disappear again.

Pei Songji, avoiding his gaze, pressed the button for the basement level.

Jing Ciying finally found something to say. “Where are you going?”

“To meet a client,” Pei Songji replied.

“Oh.”

“What are you doing here?” Pei Songji asked.

Having been caught outside Pei Songji’s office, he couldn’t claim he was just passing by.

“I came to see you,” he admitted.

Pei Songji finally looked at him. “Then why did you leave before I saw you?”

“I…” He struggled to come up with an excuse. “Something came up.”

“What?” Pei Songji persisted.

Jing Ciying was speechless.

“I apologize,” Pei Songji said softly. “I overstepped again.”

“No, it’s not…” Jing Ciying started to say, but the elevator dinged, reaching the first floor.

He should have gotten off, but Pei Songji was still there, and he couldn’t bring himself to leave.

Pei Songji didn’t rush him, and they stood there in silence as the doors closed again.

“Aren’t you getting off?” Pei Songji finally asked. “Or are you joining me for my meeting?”

Jing Ciying remembered the new secretary and felt a strange pang of… something he couldn’t quite identify.

“Don’t you have a new secretary?”

“He’s not a personal secretary, just an assistant,” Pei Songji clarified, then added, as if realizing the implication, “I haven’t hired a new personal secretary since you left.”

Jing Ciying was about to turn back to him when the elevator reached the basement level, and Pei Songji stepped out.

He stopped, seeing Jing Ciying still inside. “Aren’t you coming?”

Although his tone was still indifferent, Jing Ciying sensed a subtle shift in his demeanor.

The tension between them eased slightly.

He hurried after him, his voice lighter now. “Are you still mad at me?”

Pei Songji paused but didn’t answer, continuing to walk.

Jing Ciying followed him, his tone playful. “Mr. Pei, you’re too big to hold a grudge against a mere mortal like me.”

Pei Songji still didn’t respond, just opened the car door. “Get in.”

The driver, who had been about to open the door for them, quickly got back inside.

Jing Ciying chuckled and got into the car.

Once they were settled, Pei Songji finally spoke. “Should I have my driver take you home first?”

“No.” They hadn’t seen each other in two weeks; he didn’t want to leave so soon. Remembering Pei Songji’s earlier words, he said, “You’re going to meet a client, right? I’ll come with you.”

Pei Songji hesitated, then glanced at his watch and agreed.

Jing Ciying, having accompanied Pei Songji to countless business meetings, was familiar with the protocol.

His previous duties had included intercepting drinks on Pei Songji’s behalf, but he couldn’t drink now, and he wasn’t involved in the current negotiations, so he just ate quietly beside Pei Songji, who kept serving him food while discussing business with their clients.

The client, noticing Pei Songji’s attentiveness, raised his glass, a teasing smile on his face. “Mr. Pei, is this your new… friend?”

Pei Songji looked up from serving Jing Ciying food.

The client, seeing his expression, realized his mistake and was about to apologize when Pei Songji said, “Boyfriend.”

Jing Ciying looked up at him, surprised, then the client started apologizing profusely.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! My mistake! I’ll punish myself with a drink. Please don’t be offended.”

He drained his glass.

Jing Ciying understood Pei Songji’s intention.

He couldn’t contradict him now, so he simply shook his head. “It’s alright.”

The client’s demeanor changed instantly, his tone more respectful.

It was almost 10:00 pm when they finished dinner. As Pei Songji drove him home, he apologized.

“For what?” Jing Ciying asked, still processing the events of the evening.

“For calling you my boyfriend. Those guys… don’t mind them.”

Jing Ciying shook his head. He hadn’t been offended.

He wanted to say that, but with the driver present, he felt awkward. “I’ve been going to bed early lately,” he said instead, a random, slightly absurd statement.

Pei Songji, surprised by the non sequitur, paused. “That’s… good.”

“I shouldn’t have said those things the other night. I know you were just concerned about me.”

Having broken the ice, the words flowed more easily now.

“And I didn’t really have something come up earlier. I was just… afraid to see you. That’s why I left.”

“Afraid to see me?” Pei Songji looked at him, his voice softening.

“Yes.” Jing Ciying met his gaze, a strange shyness washing over him, but he forced himself to continue. “I was afraid you wouldn’t… talk to me anymore.”

He wasn’t used to expressing vulnerability. He had always been self-reliant, enduring hardships alone.

He had thought he was immune to loss.

But he had been wrong.

He had a weakness, a vulnerability. He was afraid of losing Pei Songji.

“So… will you still… care about me?”

Pei Songji stared at him, momentarily speechless, then his gaze intensified.

“Do you want me to?”

The question, although simple, felt strangely intimate. Jing Ciying nodded. “Yes.”

“Okay,” Pei Songji said, a smile touching his lips. “Then I’ll continue to… care about you.”

“Thank you,” Jing Ciying said, feeling a sense of relief, the weight lifting from his shoulders.

They arrived at his apartment. Pei Songji got out of the car and walked him to his door.

“Are you coming up?” Jing Ciying asked.

Pei Songji glanced at his watch. “You said I could… take care of you. It’s past 10:00. I have to make sure you go to bed.”

Jing Ciying had assumed the “taking care” would involve the usual 10:00 pm phone call, not a personal visit.

But considering his recent behavior, he couldn’t argue with Pei Songji’s concern.

He quickly washed up, changed into his pajamas, and then lay down in bed. “Are you satisfied now?”

“Yes,” Pei Songji said, turning off the light. He didn’t leave, just leaned against the doorframe, watching him.

Jing Ciying couldn’t sleep under his scrutiny. “I can’t sleep if you’re staring at me,” he said.

“Alright, I’ll leave then,” Pei Songji said, reaching for the door.

“Wait, that’s not what I meant.”

“What?”

“It’s late. If you don’t want to leave, there’s a new toothbrush in the bathroom. And I have an extra set of pajamas.”

He hadn’t intended to say that, the words escaping before he could stop them. His face burned with embarrassment, but thankfully, the room was dark.

Pei Songji just stood there, silent.

As Jing Ciying wondered if he had overstepped, Pei Songji finally spoke. “Do you mean… I can stay here tonight?”

It was a perfectly normal request, two men sharing an apartment, but the air suddenly felt thick with unspoken intimacy.

“If you don’t mind the… lack of luxury,” Jing Ciying mumbled, pulling the covers over his face, hiding his blush.

Pei Songji didn’t respond, just went to the closet and found the pajamas, then left the room.

The door remained open, and Jing Ciying could hear the sounds of running water from the bathroom.

After a while, Pei Songji returned, slipping into bed beside him.

The room was quiet, neither of them speaking or moving.

Finally, Jing Ciying broke the silence. “You…”

“What is it?” Pei Songji asked, his voice soft, as if he had been expecting him to be awake.

His quick response made Jing Ciying lose his nerve. “Nothing,” he mumbled.

He closed his eyes, trying to sleep, but Pei Songji persisted. “You have something to say.”

Jing Ciying, defeated, admitted, “It’s just… you called me your boyfriend earlier.”

Pei Songji understood. “I’m sorry. Did that upset you? I just didn’t want him to make those jokes about you.”

Jing Ciying shook his head. “No, it’s not that. I just…”

He opened his eyes, meeting Pei Songji’s gaze.

He didn’t look away this time. “I wasn’t offended. I just… maybe we should… try this.”