What to Do When Mistaken for the CEO’s Brother? 42

Chapter 42

After two more days in the hospital, Xing Li’s blood pressure stabilized, and she was discharged.

Although the incident had a happy ending, it served as a wake-up call. Murong Cheng realized his parents were getting older and should consider retiring from the demanding homestay business.

But the homestay couldn’t reopen until the fire safety issues were resolved, and every day it remained closed was a day without income, a source of anxiety for his parents.

After understanding the situation, and with his father caring for his mother, Murong Cheng took charge of the homestay renovations. He spent the next few days navigating the bureaucratic maze of fire safety regulations and city ordinances. While he couldn’t immediately lift the suspension, he learned what needed to be done: replacing the gas water heaters and rewiring the electrical system. He then began contacting contractors and suppliers.

Staying busy was a good distraction.

He had no time to dwell on his dismissal from Guangyu or worry about Murong Yan. Back in H City, surrounded by his family, away from the hustle and bustle of A City, he felt capable and useful. Perhaps if he hadn’t been mistaken for the CEO’s brother, if he had started as a regular employee, learning and growing gradually, he could have also progressed, from a clueless newbie to a seasoned professional like Zou Xun, then a team leader like Pan Yueyi, and perhaps even a general manager like Xu Yayun.

He hadn’t had time to think about his future. For now, being home, taking care of his mother, seeing her recover, was enough.

Perhaps he could take over the family business and stay in H City? But his parents would disapprove, seeing it as a waste of his education. He wished he had a marketable skill like Chi Yu. But even if he was fired, Murong Yan would still be in A City. Would they have to endure a long-distance relationship? Although, with Murong Yan’s constant business trips and overtime, they were practically in a long-distance relationship already.

The longer he stayed home, the less his parents mentioned his job. His dismissal from Guangyu became an unspoken secret among the three of them. They didn’t ask, and he didn’t tell. A week passed peacefully.

He oversaw the installation of new water heaters and the rewiring of the electrical system in each homestay unit. As the last weekend of March approached, it was his mother’s 50th birthday.

Having just recovered from her illness, and with the homestay closed, they opted for a quiet celebration at home, just the three of them, with a simple cake.

He gave the contractors the day off and went grocery shopping with his father, buying fresh seafood. After lunch, they prepared the ingredients for the birthday dinner.

This was his first time celebrating his mother’s birthday at home since high school. He usually just sent a cake and video-called her, offering his congratulations from afar.

Xing Li was happy, her face beaming throughout the evening, enjoying the home-cooked meal prepared by her husband and son.

After dinner, Murong Cheng placed the cake on the table, inserted the candles, and lit them.

“Make a wish, Mom,” he said.

Seeing the numbers “5” and “0” on the cake made him realize how quickly time had passed.

“Happy birthday, Mom,” he said, blinking back a sudden wave of emotion. He turned to his father. “Dad, let’s sing happy birthday.”

They sang, and Xing Li closed her eyes, making a wish, then blew out the candles.

“What did you wish for?” Murong Maohua asked.

She didn’t hesitate. “I wished for my son’s career success and a good partner.”

“Mom…” Murong Cheng touched his nose, embarrassed. “It’s your birthday, and your wishes are all about me.”

“You’re my only child. Of course, I wish for your happiness,” she said, looking at him.

“I’m fine, Mom. Don’t worry,” he was about to say more when his phone rang.

It was Murong Yan.

“Who is it, calling so late? Is it Xiao Yu?” Xing Li asked curiously.

“No…”

It’s the partner you just wished for, Mom, he thought. His mother’s wish had come true.

After two weeks of silence, Murong Yan had finally called. He walked away from the table and answered the call. “Hello.”

“Ah Cheng, I’m back,” a familiar voice, low and gentle, said.

Tears welled up in his eyes. “Oh, you’re back. How are things at Guangyu?”

Murong Yan didn’t answer. “I’m downstairs.”

“What?”

He rushed to the balcony and looked down.

In the dim light, Murong Yan, wearing a dark silk shirt, was looking up at him.

His heart skipped a beat.

“Come down,” Murong Yan’s voice was a seductive command.

“I…” he glanced at his parents, still at the dining table. “It’s my mom’s birthday.”

“Oh?” Murong Yan paused. “Should I buy something and come up?”

“No, no, no! That’s too sudden!” he blurted out. “I’ll come down. Where are you staying? Can I meet you later?”

“Okay, I’ll be waiting for you at the restaurant downstairs.”

He hung up and returned to the table.

“Who was that?” Xing Li asked.

“Someone from the company,” he replied vaguely.

It wasn’t entirely a lie. Murong Yan was his boss, or rather, former boss.

His father also looked at him. “Which colleague? Your CEO? But wasn’t he…”

Murong Cheng nodded. “Yes, the former CEO.”

His parents exchanged a worried look. “Xiao Cheng, why is your former boss calling you so late?”

He made up a story. “He wanted to ask about the company. I told him I’m on leave.”

“Why was your CEO dismissed?” Xing Li asked.

He shrugged. “That’s above my pay grade, Mom.”

She seemed unconvinced and wanted to ask more, but he quickly cut the cake and gave her a piece.

“Here, Mom, have some cake.”

He kept glancing at his phone, eager to leave, but his parents wouldn’t let him.

“Mom and Dad, I’m going downstairs to take out the trash.”

Xing Li stopped him. “Your father can do it. He’s going for a walk later.”

“I think I forgot to turn off the lights at the homestay. I’ll go check.”

Murong Maohua waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine. You can check tomorrow. It’s late. Stay home and rest.”

He gave up and messaged Murong Yan.

[Cheng: I’m trapped. Go to your hotel. Send me the address. I’ll come find you after my parents go to bed.]

“I’m going to take a shower. You two should go to bed early, especially you, Mom. The doctor said you need to rest,” he said.

Xing Li: “I know. I’m going to bed too. Maohua, go for your walk and then come back to sleep.”

Murong Maohua: “Okay.”

He showered, dried his hair, played games on his phone, and finally, the apartment quieted down. He peeked out of his room. The lights in the living room were off. His parents must be asleep.

He grabbed his shoes, tiptoed out of his room, and changed into them at the door.

Murong Yan had only replied with “Okay,” but hadn’t sent the hotel address.

He called him downstairs.

“Which hotel are you at? I’ll come find you.”

“I haven’t gone to the hotel yet. I’m downstairs,” Murong Yan replied.

“Still downstairs?” he quickened his pace. “Isn’t it deserted at this hour? Aren’t there mosquitoes?”

“No mosquitoes. I’m in the gazebo. There’s a mosquito repellent lamp,” Murong Yan said.

There was a gazebo in the central garden of the complex, not far from his building. He hurried over and found Murong Yan sitting inside.

“Yan-ge!” He threw himself into Murong Yan’s arms. “Where did you go? You were gone for so long! Why didn’t you tell me where you were going…?”

The familiar warmth of his embrace calmed his racing heart.

“I was taking care of things,” Murong Yan said softly, stroking his hair. “I’m sorry about what happened at Guangyu.”

Murong Cheng shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes.

“When did you return to H City?” Murong Yan asked.

“The day after I was fired,” he mumbled. “Our homestay was shut down. My mom went to argue with them and collapsed. She was hospitalized.”

Murong Yan’s hand froze on his head. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. How is she now?”

Murong Cheng shook his head. “You had enough on your plate with Guangyu. I didn’t want to burden you further. She’s fine now. She’s been discharged for a few days. I’m working with a contractor to renovate the homestay. We should be able to reopen soon.”

“You should have told me,” Murong Yan said, his warm breath against his ear.

Murong Cheng: “Would you have come back for me?”

Murong Yan pulled away slightly, looking into his eyes. “Of course.”

Murong Cheng smiled. “I don’t quite believe you, but I appreciate the sentiment.”

Murong Yan looked at him intently. “I’m serious. If something happens to your family, I’ll be there.”

Murong Cheng looked at him. “Am I more important to you than Guangyu?”

Murong Yan didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

Murong Cheng: “More important than the company you built?”

Murong Yan: “Guangyu can wait. You come first.”

Murong Cheng: “So you’ve resolved the Guangyu situation?”

Murong Yan nodded. “More or less.”

Murong Cheng: “More or less?”

Murong Yan took his hand. “You’ll find out soon.”

Murong Cheng: “Did it go well?”

Murong Yan: “It was okay.”

Murong Cheng was still worried. “You have a plan to regain control, right? Your father personally dismissed you and appointed someone else.”

Murong Yan looked at him intently. “If I lose everything, if I’m no longer the CEO of Guangyu, if the Murong family abandons me, will you still be with me?”

Murong Cheng met his gaze, his voice firm. “I won’t abandon you.”

“Then take me in for a while,” Murong Yan said, suddenly clinging to his arm, his voice playful. “I can’t go back to A City. I’m unemployed, just like you. Please, wifey, be kind and take me in.”

Murong Cheng chuckled, amused by his unexpected display of affection. “Sure, we’re both unemployed now. We can both take a break here. But our homestay is under renovation. You’ll have to stay in a hotel.”

Murong Yan: “I’ll stay at the one near your place, the one you mentioned before.”

“That one…”

He was about to say it was a terrible hotel when he noticed his father, Murong Maohua, standing behind Murong Yan.

“D-Dad… what are you doing here…?”