What to Do When Mistaken for the CEO’s Brother? 25

Chapter 25

Despite his first long-haul international flight, Murong Cheng adjusted to the time difference quickly.

The next morning, he and Murong Yan woke up almost simultaneously. As he reached out blindly, his hand was caught by the CEO.

“Good morning, kid,” Murong Yan murmured, a gentle smile on his face.

He was lying shirtless in the white sheets, the golden sunlight highlighting his toned physique. Murong Cheng’s gaze lingered for a moment.

“G-Good morning,” he stammered, quickly looking away, realizing the danger of such blatant staring.

Murong Yan chuckled softly and reached for his phone on the nightstand.

They both checked their messages.

Several messages from Mu Haoqiong popped up. Murong Cheng suddenly remembered he hadn’t told his roommate about his sudden trip.

[PoorPoor: Not coming home tonight either?]

[PoorPoor: What’s going on? Are you on a business trip?]

[PoorPoor: Did something happen at Guangyu?]

It was a business trip, of sorts. He glanced at the CEO, feeling a pang of guilt. He was the CEO’s assistant, accompanying him on a trip. That was technically work.

[Cheng: Yes, I’m on a business trip.]

Mu Haoqiong wouldn’t pry into the details of a business trip.

As for whether something had happened at Guangyu…

Unsure how much Mu Haoqiong knew, and remembering Xu Yayun’s warning, he decided to play dumb.

[Cheng: What do you mean? What happened at the company?]

He put down his phone. Murong Yan had sat up.

“Yan-ge, what’s your schedule today? Can I come with you?”

Murong Yan pulled on a sweater, his back to the sunlight. “I’ve canceled today’s appointments.”

“What?” Murong Cheng was surprised. “Why?”

“Because I want to spend time with you,” Murong Yan said, looking at him intently.

“Really?” His tone was so casual that Murong Cheng couldn’t tell if he was serious.

“We finalized the deal yesterday. Duan Shao can handle the rest today.”

He hadn’t seen Duan Shao since arriving in Germany. It seemed the CEO’s secretary was even busier abroad, handling not only his own duties but also some of the CEO’s tasks.

“What are you thinking about?” Murong Yan asked, seeing him lost in thought. He leaned closer.

Murong Cheng pouted playfully. “I’m thinking… since the king isn’t attending to his duties, am I disrupting your work, Your Majesty?”

Murong Yan’s eyes darkened. “The king isn’t attending to his duties? Do you know what the king does when he neglects his duties?”

He leaned in closer.

Murong Cheng quickly backed away. “No, no! I’m sorry, Your Majesty!”

Murong Yan’s hand cupped the back of his head. “What are you sorry for?”

His lips brushed against Murong Cheng’s.

“Everything! I’m… I’m hungry! I’m going to wash up!” He pulled away and hurried into the bathroom, escaping the CEO’s soft laughter.

Despite the ointment, the lingering soreness made him uncomfortable. They avoided crowded places, having breakfast at the hotel buffet, lunch at a quiet pizza place across the street, and dinner at a nearby steakhouse with Duan Shao.

Duan Shao arrived early for the dinner meeting, his expression unsurprised when Murong Cheng and Murong Yan entered together. He gestured for the waiter to bring water.

Duan Shao also spoke fluent German. Hearing him converse with the waiter, Murong Cheng felt a pang of insecurity.

Of course, the CEO’s secretary needed to speak the local language when traveling abroad. He couldn’t expect the CEO to translate everything.

Compared to Duan Shao, he felt utterly useless. He had only gotten this job because the CEO had taken pity on him after he failed his review.

Lost in thought, he didn’t hear Duan Shao calling his name.

Murong Yan nudged him.

He looked up, dazed. “Huh?”

Murong Yan gestured towards Duan Shao.

“Ah Cheng, how would you like your steak cooked?”

He vaguely remembered Murong Yan ordering medium-well last time they had Western food together.

“Medium-well,” he replied.

“Okay,” Duan Shao nodded and continued ordering.

After ordering, Duan Shao began his report, discussing the performance and quality of some materials. Although they spoke in Chinese, the technical jargon was just as incomprehensible as the German conversation earlier.

Murong Cheng, bored, scrolled through his phone.

Mu Haoqiong had finally replied, saying he didn’t know what was happening at the company, only that there were rumors of changes on the 28th floor.

[Cheng: Changes? What kind of changes?]

Guangyu was Murong Yan’s creation. Who else could lead the company?

[PoorPoor: I don’t know. Maybe Lingyu Group will take over?]

[PoorPoor: How old is CEO Murong? I heard Guangyu was just a stepping stone for him, a way to gain experience before taking over Lingyu Group.]

Mu Haoqiong had a point. Murong Yan was six years older than him, twenty-eight this year. Thirty was considered a significant milestone in a man’s life. Having achieved success with Guangyu, perhaps it was time for him to return to the family business.

But Lingyu’s headquarters was also in A City, just a short drive from Guangyu. Even if Murong Yan returned to Lingyu, they wouldn’t be in a long-distance relationship.

[PoorPoor: Have you heard anything? Tell me, I won’t tell anyone.]

[Cheng: No.]

He genuinely hadn’t heard anything about Murong Yan leaving Guangyu.

Their conversation ended there. The food hadn’t arrived yet. He scrolled through his Moments.

The latest post was from Chi Yu.

A photo of a cocktail, taken in the dimly lit bar, with a rose in the glass. It looked elegant and mysterious.

Was he showing off his new relationship? Murong Cheng chuckled and liked the post.

Just as he was about to scroll further, a new message popped up from Mu Haoqiong.

[PoorPoor: When are you coming back from your business trip?]

[Cheng: Not sure yet. Why?]

[PoorPoor: Can you make it back by the weekend? I’m planning to confess my feelings, and I need your advice.]

[Cheng: !!!]

[Cheng: What?! Tell me everything!]

[PoorPoor: One of the girls we met on that double blind date, Zhou Yuelin. Remember her?]

Murong Cheng frowned, trying to recall.

[Cheng: Any hints?]

[PoorPoor: Short hair.]

[PoorPoor: Wore a very short skirt. Stunningly beautiful.]

Murong Cheng: No recollection whatsoever…

But he pretended to remember.

[Cheng: Oh, right, I think I remember her.]

[Cheng: Good for you, Lao Mu! About to get a girlfriend!]

[PoorPoor: Not yet. I need your advice when you get back.]

[Cheng: Haha, no problem!]

[PoorPoor: Once I’m off the market, I’ll help you find someone. Blind dates actually work!]

He wouldn’t need his help.

He glanced at Murong Yan, who was reading some documents, and smiled.

[Cheng: Waiting for the good news.]

[Cheng: Fighting!.jpg]

“What are you smiling about?” Murong Yan asked, placing a napkin on his lap as the waiter brought their steaks.

Murong Cheng blinked. “It’s a secret.”

Germany was the last stop on Murong Yan’s European business trip.

Over the next two days, Murong Cheng accompanied him to another supplier meeting and explored Munich, then they returned to China.

He still didn’t know the details of the Guangyu situation. Whenever he tried to ask, Murong Yan simply brushed it off, telling him not to worry.

But he was right. Murong Yan could handle anything.

Back in China, after two days of recovering from jet lag, he helped Mu Haoqiong set up his elaborate confession and witnessed the start of a new relationship, then returned to work.

Before leaving his apartment, unsure whether to go to his old desk on the 8th floor, he messaged Yan Xiaoling.

She replied quickly, telling him to come directly to the 28th floor.

[Xiaoling: CEO Murong is back. There’s no reason for you to hide on the 8th floor.]

[Cheng: Okay, Xiaoling-jie!]

He replied cheerfully, then paused, realizing her words could be interpreted in two ways.

One, CEO Murong was back, the problem resolved, so he, as the CEO’s assistant, didn’t need to occupy someone else’s desk.

Two, CEO Murong was back, and since he belonged to the CEO, he should be with him.

Besides Duan Shao and the two drivers, Yan Xiaoling spent the most time with Murong Yan.

Had she figured out their relationship?

Which relationship? That he was the CEO’s “brother,” or that they were dating?

Lost in thought, he almost tripped in the elevator lobby of the SKYLINE building.

A hand reached out to steady him. He looked up and saw Murong Yan.

“Tha—” he started to say “Thank you,” then remembered Murong Yan disliked that. Noticing Duan Shao standing nearby, he forced himself to complete the sentence. “Thank you, CEO Murong.”

The elevator arrived. He stepped aside, letting the CEO enter first, followed by Duan Shao. Then he entered.

First, he had been saved from being fired and transferred to the CEO’s office, and now, he had been caught by the CEO in a near-stumble.

The elevator was crowded during morning rush hour. Almost an entire department witnessed the CEO’s “heroic rescue.” And since they were from different departments, the news spread like wildfire throughout the company.

[I saw CEO Murong in the elevator this morning!]

[That’s not the point. The point is, his assistant almost fell, and the CEO caught him!]

[The CEO’s assistant? The new guy?]

[Yes! And he also has the last name Murong!]

[What? Also Murong? I thought it was a scene from a CEO drama! Doesn’t the CEO have a younger brother?]

[Dude, watch what you say.]

[The CEO does have a brother, but those are two separate issues. Winking emoji]

[Sounds like they’re trying to hide something.]

[This is a company chat group! Be mindful of your words!]

Murong Cheng wasn’t in the group chat, but someone helpfully relayed the messages.

[PoorPoor: You’re really cementing your “CEO’s brother” status, buddy. My feed is flooded with gossip about you and CEO Murong.]

Murong Cheng sat down at his desk, speechless.

It was just a minor stumble in the elevator. Why was everyone making such a big deal out of it?

But then he realized, if it weren’t him and Murong Yan, if he were just a regular employee, he would be gossiping too.

He sighed.

At least his shared last name with the CEO provided a convenient explanation. People simply assumed he was Murong Yan’s brother. Otherwise, the rumors would be much more scandalous.

Back on the 28th floor, with no assigned tasks from Murong Yan or Duan Shao, he decided to be proactive, studying the company documents Duan Shao had given him earlier. He wanted to understand Guangyu’s business so he could be helpful to Murong Yan.

The recent incident, although resolved, had made him realize his helplessness. He was Murong Yan’s boyfriend, his partner. He wanted to share his burdens.

Even though he was far from Murong Yan’s level, he wanted to improve, to be able to support him.

Becoming as capable as Murong Yan was probably impossible, but he could strive to be like Duan Shao, or at least a fraction of Duan Shao.

His new motto: Learn from Duan Shao, assist the CEO.

He downloaded the documents, made himself a cup of coffee, and was just about to start studying when his phone buzzed.

[Yu: Are you back?]

Why was Chi Yu messaging him so early? He sighed, annoyed by the interruption, then felt a pang of guilt.

[Cheng: Yes, I’m back.]

He remembered borrowing money from Chi Yu before his trip.

[Cheng: Transferring 50,000 yuan.]

He repaid Chi Yu with the money Murong Yan had given him.

[Yu: Seems like the trip went well.]

[Yu: Received 50,000 yuan.]

[Cheng: It was okay.]

[Cheng: Smiling Samoyed emoji]

[Yu: Are you going this weekend?]

[Cheng: Going where?]

Chi Yu sent a link to a wedding invitation.

The bride was Yang Manman, a high school friend.

[Yu: She just sent me a separate invitation. She probably hasn’t sent you one yet.]

Just then, he received a message from Yang Manman, inviting him to her wedding in A City this weekend.

[Cheng: Yes, I should be free. She’s getting married early. Is she the first one in our class?]

He replied to Chi Yu, then accepted Yang Manman’s invitation, offering his congratulations.

[Yu: Probably the first one among those who stayed in A City. Many of our classmates back home are already married with kids.]

Murong Cheng was stunned.

Just as he replied, Yang Manman sent another message.

[Manman’s Love: Are you seeing anyone? You can bring your partner to the wedding! I’ll reserve seats for you.]

He did have a partner, but he hadn’t introduced him to his friends yet. Should he bring Murong Yan?

The wedding guests would mostly be his and Chi Yu’s old classmates. Few of them worked in the same industry. They were ordinary people. Even if he brought Murong Yan, they probably wouldn’t recognize him.

He had a boyfriend. Why not bring him?

[Cheng: Okay, I’ll bring my partner.]