Chapter 9: Teasing the Shy Little Assistant
“Ding—” The elevator arrived at the sixth floor.
Li Ge tightened his grip on Chen Shuo’s shoulder, practically shoving him into the elevator with his strength before letting go. He repeatedly pressed the “close” button, simultaneously giving the little star a warning glare, daring him to step into the elevator.
“Mr. Li…” The little star reached out, sobbing, but ultimately didn’t dare to step in for the sake of his career.
As the doors closed, Li Ge cursed, “Fuck.” He felt something was off and realized he had forgotten to press the floor button. The elevator wasn’t moving, and the little assistant who had overshadowed him was standing beside him like a log.
“Press it, what are you standing there for?”
Chen Shuo extended his index finger and pressed the button for the first floor.
The elevator was too quiet, with an underlying awkward atmosphere, seemingly mixed with a hint of inexplicable ambiguity.
Li Ge was used to being flamboyant. The word “awkward” didn’t exist in his dictionary. He suddenly felt that the quiet little assistant beside him seemed awkward, clumsy and unobservant. After some thought, he realized something was fishy.
“Are you nervous?”
Chen Shuo wasn’t nervous, he was extremely disgusted and wanted to chop off Li Ge’s frivolous salty pig trotter. Unfortunately, he couldn’t, so he had to endure it.
“No.” He replied seriously, turning to look at the floor indicator, praying in his heart that the elevator would stop on the fifth floor, and anyone would come in and shut Li Ge up.
However, this action, in Mr. Li’s eyes, became a small gesture to conceal his inner feelings, definitely nervous and shy, not a reaction a normal straight man would have.
“Don’t tell me you think I’m actually into you?” Unable to see his face, Li Ge looked at Chen Shuo’s fair jade-like earlobe, his words clearly teasing.
“…” Chen Shuo considered whether to press the button for the third floor and get out early, but that would seem to confirm his nervousness, attracting Li Ge’s attention and causing misunderstanding.
Li Ge was most afraid of unwanted romantic advances. Seeing that Chen Shuo still didn’t dare to look at him, he added, “Don’t misunderstand, I’m not into you, I’m just using you as a shield.”
Thank goodness. Chen Shuo thought.
“No misunderstanding, Mr. Li, please rest assured.”
The honest little assistant was very sensible, not taking the opportunity to express anything. Li Ge generously praised Chen Shuo, “You’re quite handsome, you fit my aesthetic.”
“…” The corner of Chen Shuo’s mouth twitched. Staring at the number “2” displayed on the indicator, he prayed again that the elevator would stop, and anyone would come in and drag this frivolous homosexual away.
“But your physique is not good,” Li Ge clicked his tongue, saying regretfully, “So muscular, looks stiff, I’m really not interested.”
Chen Shuo: “…”
Li Ge: “But it’s not hopeless, you can lose thirty pounds and we’ll talk.”
“Ding—” The elevator reached the first floor.
For the first time in his life, Chen Shuo experienced sexual harassment. He really couldn’t take it anymore. As soon as the elevator doors opened, his long legs stepped out before Li Ge, leaving directly.
He didn’t go far, stopping to bid farewell to Li Ge, saying politely, “Mr. Li, I’ll be going now.”
Li Ge, thinking about the lover waiting for him at the hotel, nodded slightly, not paying much attention to Chen Shuo.
A mere little assistant wasn’t worth his attention.
It wasn’t until he got into the car and was alone in the enclosed space that Chen Shuo felt more comfortable, slowly digesting the negative emotions brought about by Li Ge’s sexual harassment.
Fortunately, the troublesome matter was over.
He Yan no longer asked about Lin Yuzhi’s situation, so Chen Shuo didn’t plan to report it. As for Mr. Li’s instructions a while ago, he now pretended he hadn’t heard them.
A meal between cousins didn’t require him, an assistant, to relay the message.
The next day, a spring rain quietly fell, washing away the usual hustle and bustle of Beicheng, as well as the lingering negative emotions Chen Shuo hadn’t fully digested.
He deliberately avoided the commercial building where he had encountered Li Ge, changing his gym time to the morning. For more than half a month, he didn’t run into him once.
If he couldn’t afford to offend him, he could at least avoid him.
While staying at home, Chen Shuo didn’t become disconnected from society. He not only watched TV dramas but also made time to browse the internet every day, reading financial news, especially news related to Hengxin Group.
Although his job mainly involved cleaning up messes, he always paid attention to his boss’s schedule. He Yan’s exclusive secretary, Shao Tong, also contacted him every few days.
Learning from Shao Tong that CEO He had been extremely busy recently, with major projects that would keep him occupied for at least three to four months, Chen Shuo was in a good mood and decided to rewatch “Empresses in the Palace.”
When he saw the scheming palace maid Yu Yinger gaining the emperor’s favor, becoming arrogant and conceited, he inexplicably thought of Li Ge. His flamboyant and complacent demeanor was indeed somewhat similar to this “Consort Miaoyin.” Both were quite annoying.
“Bitch, bitch, you’ll die a horrible death, bitch.”
Chen Shuo watched Yu Yinger rolling her eyes and frantically stabbing a Zhen Huan doll. Although he looked down on her despicable and vicious methods, he could somewhat understand.
Different social classes, without the ability to challenge those above, it was all fate.
If he were Yu Yinger, he would just be a lowly palace maid in Yimei Garden for the rest of his life.
Wanting nothing, living a stable life, working hard, saving money for retirement, and finally leaving this world peacefully.
So Chen Shuo didn’t want to live such a tiring life, didn’t want to participate in workplace politics, didn’t want to interact with too many people. He wanted his world to be quiet and peaceful, even if life was stagnant.
Stagnant was good.
But another pebble was thrown his way.
The neon lights of Bar Street flickered. When Chen Shuo saw the person coming out of the bar with his boss, he didn’t recognize him at first. After confirming, he almost wanted to turn back, even wanting to call a designated driver for his boss.
If the driver hadn’t taken leave, his long vacation wouldn’t have been interrupted.
“Yo, Assistant Chen.”
Three months had passed. Li Ge was wearing a T-shirt, beach shorts, and flip-flops, as if he had just returned from the beach, even more unreliable than before, not to mention his roguish air.
Smelling the alcohol on him, Chen Shuo took half a step back and politely greeted, “Hello, Mr. Li.”
“What a coincidence, I’m in a rather bad mood.” Li Ge narrowed his eyes slightly, appraising Chen Shuo, then suddenly turned to ask He Yan, “Where did you recruit this robot from?”
Chen Shuo: “…”
He Yan was a bit tired and ignored his cousin, turning back to tell Qiao An to take Li Ge home. He got into the car first.
Chen Shuo was about to close the car door for his boss when an arm suddenly reached in. Li Ge plopped down in the car and said, “I’ll hitch a ride today.”
“Get out!” Qiao An went over to pull Li Ge out, but was scolded by Li Ge, “Why are you like my mother, going through menopause? Go away, don’t make me angry.”
Qiao An: “You…”
“I’ll take him, you go back.” He Yan spoke.
Qiao An thought for a moment and reminded, “He’s heartbroken, keep an eye on him.” As soon as he finished speaking, a hand reached out from the car, pointing directly at his nose.
“It’s your loose lips,” Li Ge yelled at Qiao An, “always ruining my reputation.”
Qiao An shook his head helplessly, “Alright, alright, you’re amazing, a love life disaster.” He closed the car door and instructed Chen Shuo, “Take He Yan home first, he has a meeting tomorrow morning.”
As the temporary driver, Chen Shuo had no choice but to accept.
After the car started, He Yan asked his cousin, “What’s this about being heartbroken?”
“Don’t listen to his nonsense, when have I ever been in love?” Li Ge explained frankly, “I’m just a bit lonely recently, haven’t met anyone I like, I’m annoyed.”
He Yan scoffed, “When are you not lonely? Always fooling around outside, you have too much time on your hands.”
“I have too much time on my hands even when I’m not full.” Li Ge leaned back lazily, not wanting to listen to his cousin’s nagging, his gaze shifting to the little assistant who was driving.
He Yan: “Focus, don’t be so frivolous all the time.”
“Assistant Chen.” Li Ge called out.
“…” Guessing what Li Ge was up to, Chen Shuo didn’t respond.
Li Ge changed his target and casually asked, “What’s your zodiac sign?”
Knowing his cousin’s preferences, He Yan didn’t think too much about it, closing his eyes to rest.
“Assistant Chen,” Li Ge’s voice became louder, “I’m asking how old you are.”
“Sorry, Mr. Li,” Chen Shuo looked straight ahead and said expressionlessly, “I’m driving, I need to concentrate.”
Li Ge: “…”
After a few seconds, Li Ge turned to ask his cousin, “Where did you recruit this robot from?”
He Yan: “Be quiet, you’re annoying.”
While waiting at the traffic light, Chen Shuo thought about how to avoid being alone with Li Ge. He Yan was used to living alone and most likely wouldn’t let his cousin stay the night.
If he was sexually harassed again, he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to resist using force against Li Ge.
