What to Do When Mistaken for the CEO’s Brother? 27

Chapter 27

Leaving the banquet hall, Murong Cheng walked out of the hotel and saw a dark-colored sports car pulling up. He had lost count of how many cars Murong Yan owned. Where did he even keep them all? How big was his garage?

He shook his head, dismissing the random thoughts, and opened the passenger door.

“Why did you come out?” Murong Yan asked.

Dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, his hair perfectly styled, he looked like he had just come from a meeting.

“The banquet’s almost over. Have you eaten?” Murong Cheng asked, fastening his seatbelt.

Murong Yan: “Not yet.”

Murong Cheng: “Then let’s go. I’ll join you. I didn’t eat much at the banquet.”

“Okay,” Murong Yan nodded, starting the car. “What are you in the mood for?”

Murong Cheng thought for a moment. “Anything, as long as it’s quiet.”

Murong Yan clearly had more experience with quiet, high-end restaurants. A few minutes later, they arrived at an elegant establishment.

“I have a private room on the third floor,” he said, handing the keys to the valet and leading Murong Cheng inside.

The staff recognized him instantly and escorted them to a private elevator.

The room was spacious, with two separate areas: a large table in the front for business meetings, and a smaller, more intimate table in the back.

Murong Yan gestured towards Murong Cheng, and the waiter handed him the menu.

“You order. I’m fine with anything,” Murong Cheng said, pushing the menu away.

“Then we’ll leave it to the chef,” Murong Yan said to the waiter, who bowed and left, closing the door behind him.

Murong Cheng took a sip of his lemon water. “Yan-ge, is everything alright at the company?”

“Why do you ask?” Murong Yan took a sip of water, his expression neutral.

“You seem busy this week,” Murong Cheng shrugged. “Barely seen you or Duan-ge on the 28th floor.”

“Just some tedious work. I didn’t want to burden you,” Murong Yan explained, his voice low and soothing. “If you’re unhappy, I’ll try to make more time for you next week.”

Murong Cheng quickly shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. I just… wanted to know if there’s anything I can help with.”

He wanted to be useful, to alleviate some of Murong Yan’s burden, even if it meant more work for him.

Murong Yan looked at him intently. “Now that you mention it, there is something.”

“What?” Murong Cheng’s eyes lit up.

“I’ll probably be busy for a while, until the holidays. If you could… move in with me, seeing you every day would be a great motivator,” he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

“Oh…” This was unexpected. Murong Cheng hesitated, unsure how to respond.

“I registered your fingerprint on my door, but you haven’t been there since, have you?” Murong Yan asked, his gaze unwavering.

That was true.

But—

Murong Cheng: “You were on a business trip! Why would I go to your apartment?”

“I told you, it’s our home,” Murong Yan corrected him.

“Oh,” Murong Cheng mumbled.

“So will you move in, Ah Cheng? Into our home?” Murong Yan asked, his gaze intense. “Think of it as helping me, helping me see you every day.”

His voice was soft and persuasive, each word a tempting invitation.

Murong Cheng, feeling slightly lightheaded, nodded almost involuntarily.

Seeing Murong Yan every day wouldn’t be so bad, would it?

Murong Yan’s smile widened. “Then come home with me later.”

Murong Cheng blinked. “But my things are at my apartment…”

Murong Yan: “I’ll help you pack.”

Murong Cheng: “…Okay.”

The waiter knocked and entered with their appetizers: burrata with cherry tomatoes and a trio of foie gras.

Although still not entirely comfortable with such luxurious food, he enjoyed the flavors.

Murong Yan picked up a tomato and offered it to him. “Did you have fun at the wedding?”

The mention of the wedding brought Murong Jing to mind.

He took a bite of the tomato, his expression troubled. “It was okay.”

Assuming he was upset about his absence, Murong Yan said, “I’ll definitely accompany you to these events next time.”

Murong Cheng forced a smile, then decided to tell Murong Yan about what he had seen.

It was a family matter, and Murong Yan would know how to handle his brother.

“I saw your brother,” he said, taking a deep breath.

Murong Yan raised an eyebrow, surprised. “He approached you? What did he say?”

Murong Cheng shook his head. “No, he was with Chi Yu. He’s Chi Yu’s boyfriend.”

“Your childhood friend?” Murong Yan frowned slightly.

Murong Cheng: “Yes.”

Murong Yan: “Did he say anything to you?”

Murong Cheng: “He pretended not to recognize me.”

The waiter returned with their soup: creamy mushroom soup with a sprinkle of black truffle.

Silence.

After the waiter left, Murong Yan spoke again.

“Just ignore him.”

Murong Cheng: “What?”

Murong Yan: “He didn’t say anything to you, did he?”

Murong Cheng: “No… but… what if he has ulterior motives for approaching Chi Yu?”

“I won’t let him succeed, whatever his motives,” a flicker of coldness crossed Murong Yan’s face, quickly replaced by his usual gentle expression. “Don’t worry.”

He reached out, and Murong Cheng took his hand.

His warm, firm grip was reassuring.

“Okay,” Murong Cheng smiled.

If Murong Yan said it was fine, then it was fine. He had probably dealt with such situations before.

“Should I tell Chi Yu?” he asked.

Murong Yan: “Up to you. You can warn him, but let him decide.”

He was right. It wasn’t his problem to solve.

Murong Cheng nodded. “Okay.”

He was still troubled by how to explain his move to Mu Haoqiong as they finished their meal.

They had been roommates for four years in college and continued to live together after graduation. They were close friends, almost as close as he and Chi Yu.

But unlike Chi Yu…

Mu Haoqiong worked at Guangyu. He knew Murong Yan.

Keeping his relationship with the CEO a secret from his roommate would be difficult.

He decided not to tell him, at least not yet.

He would tell him when he and Murong Yan were ready to go public.

After dinner, Murong Yan parked near his apartment complex.

“I’ll come upstairs with you to help you pack,” he said, unbuckling his seatbelt.

“No, wait!” Murong Cheng stopped him.

“What’s wrong?”

“I can pack myself,” he said carefully. “I have a lot of things. It’ll take a while. I’ll just pack a weekend bag for tonight. Can I come to your place?”

“Our place,” Murong Yan corrected him.

Murong Cheng smiled. “Okay, I’ll come to our place tonight. I’ll pack the rest of my things next week. Is that okay?”

Murong Yan couldn’t refuse.

“Fine, I’ll listen to you. But I can still help you carry your things downstairs, right?”

Murong Cheng hesitated.

Murong Yan, sensing his reluctance, asked, “You don’t want your roommate to know about us?”

Murong Cheng nodded. “He works in R&D. It would be… awkward.”

Murong Yan looked at him intently. “Why awkward?”

Murong Cheng didn’t answer.

If everyone knew that the CEO was dating a nobody like him, there would be gossip, whispers about how he wasn’t good enough for Murong Yan.

It was true, and he didn’t want Murong Yan to be dragged into it.

It wouldn’t be good for him or for Guangyu.

Murong Yan leaned back in his seat. “Okay, I’ll wait here then.”

Hoping Mu Haoqiong wasn’t home, Murong Cheng hurried inside.

As soon as he opened the door, the pungent smell of snail noodles hit him.

“Ah Cheng, you’re back!” Mu Haoqiong called from his room.

“Not going out on your date?” he asked, peeking into Mu Haoqiong’s room.

“No, Linlin is working overtime,” Mu Haoqiong emerged, looking dejected. “She’s been working overtime all week. They’re just as busy as we are. We haven’t seen each other in days. It’s practically a long-distance relationship.”

Murong Cheng: “Why don’t you go to her office?”

Mu Haoqiong: “They don’t allow visitors. Afraid of distractions. Their boss is strict.”

“Oh, then just order her some takeout or something,” Murong Cheng suggested casually.

Mu Haoqiong snapped his fingers. “You’re right! You’ve become quite the relationship expert. Seriously though, you didn’t seem interested in any of the girls we met. None of them caught your eye?”

Murong Cheng blurted out, “I have a boyfriend.”

Mu Haoqiong stared at him, his jaw dropping.

“What?”

Having let it slip, he decided to tell Mu Haoqiong, at least partially.

“I’m not single anymore,” he said, shrugging with a smile.

Mu Haoqiong’s eyes widened. “Since when?”

Murong Cheng: “A few weeks, I guess. Not long.”

Mu Haoqiong: “Male or female? Do I know them?”

Murong Cheng: “Male.”

As for whether Mu Haoqiong knew him…

Mu Haoqiong only knew of Murong Yan. That didn’t count as knowing him, right?

Murong Cheng: “You don’t know him.”

“Wow… wow…” Mu Haoqiong was speechless. “You sly dog! Keeping secrets from me! I was asking for your advice on my confession, and you’ve been hiding this from me?”

“I’m telling you now,” Murong Cheng said with a conciliatory smile. “So… I might be moving out next week…”

Mu Haoqiong: “Moving in with your boyfriend? You’re abandoning me just like that?”

“Yeah…” Murong Cheng licked his lips.

“You heartless traitor!” Mu Haoqiong pretended to cry, then suddenly brightened. “Wait, does that mean I can have Linlin move in? She’s also sharing an apartment, and her roommate isn’t very nice. I’m worried about her.”

Murong Cheng chuckled. “Just admit you want her to move in. You’re not fooling anyone.”

Mu Haoqiong followed him into his room, leaning against the doorframe.

“You’re moving next week. What are you packing today?”

Murong Cheng was pulling clothes out of his closet. “Just a few clothes for now. I’ll pack the rest later.”

Mu Haoqiong clicked his tongue. “If you’re moving, why not do it all at once? Here, I’ll help.”

He joined Murong Cheng, piling clothes onto the bed.

They folded the clothes, packed them into canvas bags, and then into suitcases.

Murong Cheng didn’t own many clothes. They quickly emptied the closet.

He wouldn’t need his bedding at Murong Yan’s place, nor his toiletries.

“I don’t actually have that much stuff,” Murong Cheng said, looking around his room.

Mu Haoqiong: “We haven’t been here long. We threw away a lot of stuff when we graduated.”

Murong Cheng: “What about the rest of my things… are you in a hurry to have your girlfriend move in?”

Mu Haoqiong waved his hand dismissively. “Keep them for now. I was just saying that. Linlin might not even agree. And besides—” he touched his nose, his ears turning red, “you know. If your room is empty, how can I convince her to come to my room?”

“Oh, I see,” Murong Cheng grinned, realizing his roommate’s cunning plan.

His two suitcases weren’t big enough. They packed the remaining items into Mu Haoqiong’s suitcase.

“Okay, is someone picking you up? I’ll walk you downstairs,” Mu Haoqiong said, grabbing the handle of his suitcase.

“No!” Murong Cheng blurted out, then immediately regretted it, seeing Mu Haoqiong’s surprised expression.

“What’s wrong? Don’t want me to meet your boyfriend?” Mu Haoqiong chuckled. “Don’t worry, I won’t steal him from you. Not my type. You can keep him.”

“That’s not what I meant…” Murong Cheng mumbled, embarrassed.

“Then what is it?” Mu Haoqiong’s eyes widened in realization. “Oh, are you afraid he’ll misunderstand if I walk you to his car? Fine, fine. I’ll walk you downstairs, watch you bring your luggage out, and then you can take it to his car yourself. Happy now?”

Murong Cheng smiled. “Perfect! Thank you, Mr. Mu!”