Song Yaoyao held a plate of cake and found Xie Ningwan next to the champagne tower in the center of the banquet hall.
Xie Ningwan looked at his plate, curved his lips slightly, and led him outside. They sat down at a quiet table and chairs in the garden.
Song Yaoyao placed the plate on the small table, forked a small piece of cake into his mouth, and shared the information with Xie Ningwan. “I just saw someone from the Xie Family inside. It was your third uncle.”
“Mmm, I saw him too.” Xie Ningwan sat across from him, watched him enjoy the cake, and took a handkerchief from the pocket of his suit.
“I feel like they’ll still bully you.” Song Yaoyao took the handkerchief from his hand, wiped the corner of his mouth, and said to Xie Ningwan with a serious expression.
He couldn’t directly tell Xie Ningwan the plot from the book, so he chose to remind him this way.
Xie Ningwan withdrew the hand that had instinctively wanted to wipe Song Yaoyao’s mouth for him in that instant and calmly said, “They won’t have the chance to ‘bully’ me much longer.”
Song Yaoyao didn’t understand what Xie Ningwan meant by “no chance,” but the next day, when he followed Xie Ningwan to the company and sat on the sofa watching cartoons on the tablet Xie Ningwan had given him, a news push popped up automatically on the tablet.
【Xie Family’s Xie Ming suspected of infringing trade secrets, Xie Ninghong suspected of intentional injury; both have been arrested.】
It was Xie Ming and Xie Ninghong who had gotten into trouble.
Before this, Xie Ming and Xie Ninghong had been pulling strings everywhere, begging for favors, even asking the old master to pressure Xie Ningwan. They had been arrogant for a few days, but in the end, they couldn’t escape.
“Look—” Song Yaoyao hugged the tablet and got down from the sofa, intending to show the news to Xie Ningwan. Then he remembered that Xie Ningwan had orchestrated and controlled all of this, so he must have known already.
“Hm?” Xie Ningwan lifted his head from the pile of documents and let out a soft questioning sound.
“Xie Ninghong and the others have been arrested.” Song Yaoyao still said it out loud.
“Mm,” Xie Ningwan’s eyes softened as he said, “Thanks to you helping me ‘punish’ them last time.”
Song Yaoyao had only tripped a few people and swung the chandelier a bit; he hadn’t really provided any substantial help. But being praised like this, he still puffed up his nose, feeling quite pleased with himself as he floated back to the sofa.
After watching cartoons for a while and finishing the breakfast the assistant brought, Song Yaoyao conscientiously turned off the tablet and sat down at the desk to study.
For questions he couldn’t solve, he drew a triangle first and waited for Xie Ningwan to explain them after he finished work.
In the past few days since turning back into a human, Song Yaoyao had come to the company with Xie Ningwan every day. He spent the whole day in the president’s office, and the employees outside all thought he was the new little assistant. They gossiped privately about his identity.
“Right? He must be from the Xie Family himself; otherwise, how could he go straight into the president’s office.”
“He leaves work with President Xie too.”
“He comes to work with President Xie as well.”
“But I heard the Xie Family doesn’t have any young ones his age right now, and he doesn’t look like it anyway.”
“Yeah, then who is he?”
“Speaking of which, that news this morning…”
“Have you finished revising the proposal due this week?” Assistant Lei suddenly appeared behind them and scolded.
The employees fell silent, straightened their postures, and guiltily returned to work. One straightforward employee boldly whispered to Assistant Lei, “Who’s that inside?”
“Why are you prying so much?” Assistant Lei said meaningfully. “Anyway, he’s leadership. No more discussing.”
Everyone shut up.
In the office, “leadership” Song Yaoyao finished a page of workbook, got tired, got up, and circled around to Xie Ningwan’s side. He quietly draped himself over Xie Ningwan’s back.
He had turned back into a human but hadn’t changed his habit of sticking close to Xie Ningwan. At first, Xie Ningwan had tried to avoid him and remind him, but now he had gradually adapted after being worn down, his mindset had shifted, and he let Song Yaoyao sprawl on him freely.
Xie Ningwan continued working, his gaze on the computer screen, fingers occasionally tapping the keyboard. Song Yaoyao lay on his back, arms around his neck, head resting on his shoulder. He buried his face and rested for a while.
“Should I have the secretary send in some fruit and snacks?” Xie Ningwan didn’t stop his movements, tilted his head slightly, and his jaw brushed against Song Yaoyao’s soft, fine fringe.
Song Yaoyao rubbed against his shoulder. “Okay.”
Xie Ningwan pressed the intercom button, about to call someone, when the office door was knocked on.
“Come in.” Xie Ningwan said.
Assistant Lei carried two cups of tea, pushed the door open and walked in. When he looked up and saw the intimate posture of Song Yaoyao and Xie Ningwan, his steps paused slightly before he quickly recovered his composure. He smiled and placed the tea on the desk.
“President Xie,” he said to Xie Ningwan as he set down the tea, “President Song from the Charity Association wants to meet you. He’s in the lounge now.”
“President Song, Song Huaichuan?” Xie Ningwan was a bit surprised.
Assistant Lei: “Yes.”
The Song Family focused on charity and kept a low profile. The Xie Family had no business dealings with them, and Xie Ningwan himself had little interaction with Song Huaichuan—only exchanging a few words at the last Charity Gala. He wondered why Song Huaichuan had come.
Song Yaoyao had already slid off Xie Ningwan’s back and sat back in his own chair. He picked up a teacup and curiously listened to their conversation.
“Let’s meet. Arrange it and bring him to the office.” Xie Ningwan said.
Assistant Lei nodded. “Yes, President Xie.”
Since Xie Ningwan was meeting a guest, Song Yaoyao couldn’t stay at the desk doing homework and eating snacks. He had to go out and find some snacks himself. He wandered around the pantry, eating all the fruit, cake, and cookies one by one. He also went to the restroom and chatted a few words with Mop Head and Skinny Bamboo Pole before slowly coming back.
The office door was ajar, and the people inside were still talking. Song Yaoyao boredly “floated” back and forth at the doorway.
“Young Master Song.”
Assistant Lei came to deliver fresh hot tea and ran into him at the door, greeting him with a smile.
“Assistant Lei.” Song Yaoyao stopped.
“Go on in.” Assistant Lei held the tray in one hand, reached out to hold the door handle, and gestured to him.
Inside the door, Song Huaichuan sat elegantly on the guest sofa, his posture refined and courteous.
“Hello, President Song,” Xie Ningwan sat on the single sofa opposite him. “May I ask what brings you here?”
Song Huaichuan’s gaze subtly scanned the office once, finally landing on a plush teddy bear in the corner of the sofa where he sat.
The plush teddy bear lay quietly against the sofa corner, legs in the air, looking silly and cute, completely out of place in the neat and solemn president’s office.
He had been received by the assistant earlier and had looked among the staff on both sides for the boy he saw last night, but found no trace.
He wanted to ask Xie Ningwan about it but felt it would be too abrupt.
“It’s like this,” Song Huaichuan carefully chose his words. “Recently, the Charity Association is launching aid for lost, homeless, and disadvantaged youth and children. If President Xie is interested…”
Xie Ningwan thought he understood. Song Huaichuan had come to solicit donations for the Charity Association.
The Xie Family regularly supported charity work, managed by a dedicated department, and Xie Ningwan rarely got involved personally. But when he heard about lost and homeless youths, he couldn’t help thinking of the stray little ghost who had inexplicably appeared by his side.
Xie Ningwan pondered for a moment and said, “I personally am interested—”
“Knock knock.” The office door was knocked on.
“Come in.”
Xie Ningwan turned his head, assuming it was Assistant Lei delivering tea. Unexpectedly, as the door opened, little ghost Song Yaoyao came in carrying a tray.
He paused, looked at Song Yaoyao, his eyes softening a bit, with a hint of amusement.
“Hello, President Xie. I’m here to deliver tea.” Song Yaoyao carefully steadied the tray, slowly approached the tea table in front of the two, and greeted Xie Ningwan properly.
“Good.” Xie Ningwan’s lips curved slightly as he watched Song Yaoyao imitate the assistant’s usual movements and words perfectly, taking the two cups of tea from the tray and gently placing them on the tea table.
Song Yaoyao placed one cup of tea by Xie Ningwan’s hand, straight-faced. “Please have some tea, President Xie.”
Xie Ningwan nodded, the curve of his lips deepening. He introduced the person opposite to Song Yaoyao. “This is President Song.”
“Please have some tea, President Song.” Song Yaoyao followed his form of address, imitating just like that. He lowered his head and placed the other cup of tea in front of the man on the other sofa.
Song Yaoyao was focused on his role-playing, and Xie Ningwan’s gaze was fixed on Song Yaoyao. Neither noticed that the moment Song Yaoyao entered, Song Huaichuan, sitting opposite Xie Ningwan, changed expression—seeming stunned, or perhaps trembling.
“…Thank you.” He looked at Song Yaoyao’s profile, responded after being dazed for two seconds, and picked up the teacup as if to cover it, his fingers uncontrollably stiff.
When Song Yaoyao straightened up, he sneaked a glance at him through his lashes, a bit curious.
At this glance, he suddenly recognized him and said in surprise, “Ah, I saw you yesterday.”
“Yes, we crossed paths briefly at the banquet last night.” After his brief loss of control, Song Huaichuan had already composed himself. He gave Song Yaoyao a gentle smile, not minding his surprised outburst.
Xie Ningwan, however, was puzzled and didn’t know who Song Yaoyao had met at the banquet yesterday. He looked at Song Yaoyao, raised an eyebrow, and softly questioned, “Hm?”
“I saw this President Song at the banquet last night, when I went to find you.” Song Yaoyao forgot about role-playing and spoke directly.
“Yes.”
Song Huaichuan’s gaze had been following Song Yaoyao. He smoothly asked Xie Ningwan, “President Xie, who is this little friend?”
“He’s my newly hired little assistant,” Xie Ningwan said, feeling an inexplicable faint displeasure that Song Yaoyao had things even he didn’t know. “He doesn’t know the rules very well yet.”
Hearing this, Song Yaoyao discontentedly pursed his lips and sneaked a glare at him.
“It’s fine.” Song Huaichuan smiled tolerantly.
“What’s your family name?” This time, Song Huaichuan faced Song Yaoyao directly and asked softly.
“I’m surnamed Song too.” Song Yaoyao didn’t know why he suddenly asked about him but answered truthfully.
Song Huaichuan was stunned again for a moment and opened his mouth—
“President Song, shall we continue discussing the donations?” Xie Ningwan interrupted.
Song Yaoyao’s identity was special; he didn’t want others prying too much into him.
