Chapter 58
“I’ll be making all decisions regarding Lingyu’s smart technology initiatives, including the collaboration with UZ,” Murong Yan said, his gaze firm.
Murong Zhenguo narrowed his eyes. “What’s the difference between that and taking over Lingyu?”
Murong Yan met his gaze directly. “I have no interest in the company’s other affairs, but I must have full control over its technology strategy. That’s the only way UZ Research Center will agree to a strategic partnership, granting Lingyu exclusive rights in China and solidifying its market position.”
Murong Zhenguo stared at him for a long moment, then nodded. “Fine. What about Guangyu?”
Murong Yan: “Guangyu is yours to do with as you please.”
Murong Zhenguo: “I intend to appoint Murong Jing as CEO.”
Murong Yan’s expression didn’t change. “I have no objections.”
The negotiation had been surprisingly easy. Murong Zhenguo finished his cigar and extended his hand.
“Pleasant doing business with you.”
Murong Yan’s lips curved into a smile. “Likewise, Father.”
Having settled the business matter, Murong Zhenguo’s gaze shifted to Murong Cheng, his brow furrowing in disapproval.
Murong Yan turned around, took Murong Cheng’s hand, and led him forward.
“Father, I hope you’ll also give your blessing to my relationship with Murong Cheng.”
Murong Zhenguo looked at him intently. “Is this also part of the deal? You didn’t mention it earlier.”
“It’s not a condition,” Murong Yan said, gently rubbing Murong Cheng’s hand, sensing his nervousness. “My feelings for Ah Cheng are genuine. We’re serious about our relationship. I’m asking for your blessing because you’re my father.”
Murong Zhenguo’s voice hardened. “What if I refuse?”
Murong Yan squeezed Murong Cheng’s hand. “Then Ah Cheng and I will prove to you that we made the right decision.”
Seeing his own youthful determination reflected in his son’s eyes, his unwavering conviction, his refusal to compromise, even for an advantageous alliance with the Oriental Group, Murong Zhenguo felt a mix of annoyance and a grudging respect. He had been waiting for his sons to mature, to become capable leaders, and now, his eldest son had finally come into his own, although his ambition seemed focused on his personal life rather than the family business.
He still disapproved of their relationship, but he knew his objections were futile.
He returned to his desk. “When are we signing the agreement?”
Murong Yan: “We’ve already prepared the draft. We can send it over anytime.”
Murong Zhenguo: “Then send it over.”
Murong Yan nodded and pulled out his phone. “I’ll have Cheng Geng deliver it.”
Both Murong Zhenguo and Murong Cheng looked up sharply.
Cheng Geng? The Cheng Geng from Guangyu’s Legal Department? The one I mistook Murong Yan for?
Murong Zhenguo’s voice was laced with surprise. “Cheng Geng? Since when is he working for you?”
Many of Guangyu’s department heads were Lingyu loyalists, including Yuan Ziming from HR and Cheng Geng from Legal.
Murong Yan simply smiled, offering no explanation.
Murong Zhenguo waved his hand dismissively. “Fine. Have him deliver it.”
Murong Yan, the CEO of Guangyu, was a capable leader. Persuading a department head to switch sides wasn’t a difficult feat.
Leaving his father’s office, Murong Cheng realized his shirt was damp with cold sweat.
He shivered. Murong Yan, noticing, removed his jacket and draped it over Murong Cheng’s shoulders.
“Yan-ge, I’m fine…” He was about to return the jacket when he saw Duan Shao waiting in the corridor.
“Duan… Duan-ge,” he stammered, his ears turning red.
Duan Shao, his expression professional, simply nodded and turned to Murong Yan. “I’ve informed Mr. Cheng. He’ll deliver the contract shortly.”
“Good,” Murong Yan nodded, taking Murong Cheng’s hand. “You oversee the rest of the process. Contact me if there are any issues. Ah Cheng and I will be going now.”
Duan Shao bowed respectfully. “Yes, CEO Murong.”
Having secured control over Lingyu’s smart technology initiatives, Murong Yan had effectively gained control over a significant portion of the company. His carefully laid plans had finally come to fruition.
Murong Cheng was happy for him but also felt a pang of sadness.
As they left the building, Murong Yan sensed his change in mood.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, pulling him closer and putting his arm around his shoulder.
“Yan-ge, are you staying at Lingyu now?” Murong Cheng asked, biting his lip.
Before returning to A City, Murong Yan had promised to return to H City after the conference, but now, it seemed he wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon. He had left H City in a hurry, the homestay renovations barely started, without properly saying goodbye to his parents, and he had promised to attend Chi Yu’s art exhibition.
Murong Yan understood his unspoken concerns. “No. I’ll only be overseeing the general direction of these projects at Lingyu. My main focus will still be on the research center. We’ll return to H City after the contract is signed.”
“Really?” Murong Cheng looked up, his eyes shining with hope.
“Really,” Murong Yan said, stroking his hair affectionately. “I promised to return in a few days.”
Murong Cheng: “And then? How long will we stay in H City? Are you going back to Europe?”
His work visa, sponsored by Guangyu, was no longer valid. He would need a new one to travel with Murong Yan.
“No need to go abroad. I usually handle the research center’s business online. There’s a local team managing the daily operations,” Murong Yan explained patiently. “UZ Research Center will be launching its first pilot program in H City. We can stay there for a while. Until your homestay renovations are complete, until you’re tired of that small courtyard house, until you want to leave H City.”
Murong Cheng smiled, hugging his arm. “What if I want to stay in H City forever?”
Murong Yan looked into his eyes. “Then we’ll stay. Wherever you are, I’ll be there. Ah Cheng, I love you.”
He leaned in and kissed him softly.
Murong Cheng blinked, noticing the pink peach blossoms blooming along the street, their petals falling like confetti, carried by the gentle breeze.
The air was filled with a sweet fragrance.
“Yan-ge, I love you too,” he murmured, standing on tiptoe and kissing Murong Yan’s lips, the taste of his kiss, mingled with the sweet scent of the blossoms, intoxicating.
It was an ordinary day in early summer.
He and the man he loved, kissing on a busy street.
There would be many more such days, ordinary yet beautiful.
Chapter 59
After spending a few more days in A City, helping Murong Yan finalize the agreement with Lingyu, Murong Cheng returned to H City.
Although back in H City, his livestream was put on hold again, as he had a more pressing matter to attend to: helping Chi Yu set up his art exhibition!
With the contract signed, Murong Yan also had some free time. Early the next morning, they drove to the art center in downtown H City.
Although not as bustling as A City, the art center was a trendy spot. It consisted of two buildings shaped like seashells, one large and one small, facing each other, their pearly white surfaces reflecting the sunlight, elegant and beautiful.
Chi Yu’s exhibition occupied the entire first floor of Building A.
This wasn’t his first exhibition. His artwork had been featured in national exhibitions since he was a teenager. But this was his first solo exhibition, showcasing his private collection, never before seen by the public. The theme was “Yu’s Life,” a retrospective of his artistic journey, spanning two decades, a visual representation of his life through his art.
Given the exhibition’s significance, Chi Yu had personally overseen every detail, from choosing the venue to arranging the artwork, which was why Murong Cheng and Murong Yan had come to help.
The initial setup was already complete. Their task was to transport almost a hundred paintings from Chi Yu’s various apartments to the art center.
Besides the apartment in Murong Cheng’s complex, Chi Yu owned several other properties, used as storage for his artwork. Having planned the exhibition for a while, he had his agent ship all his paintings from his A City studio to H City after returning. The paintings, carefully wrapped in glassine paper, were neatly stored in his apartments.
Murong Cheng and Murong Yan’s job was to transport the paintings and then help Chi Yu arrange them in the exhibition space.
Three days. Not too rushed, but not much time to spare either. Chi Yu stayed at the art center, while they shuttled back and forth between his apartments and the art center, carefully transporting the paintings on flatbed trolleys.
Chi Yu had hired a moving company, but only for transportation. They would handle the loading and unloading themselves, to avoid any damage to the artwork.
Wearing matching white work suits to protect both their clothes and the paintings, they loaded the trolleys and headed downstairs.
The work suits made them look professional. They even encountered a neighbor in the elevator who addressed them as “shifu” (master workers), asking which floor they were moving from.
Chi Yu’s paintings were stored in various cabinets and shelves. The lower ones were easy to reach, but the higher ones required a ladder.
Murong Cheng set up the ladder and was about to climb up when Murong Yan stopped him.
Murong Yan: “I’ll do it.”
Murong Cheng: “I think I’m more agile.”
After all, Murong Yan was a CEO, not accustomed to manual labor.
Murong Yan raised an eyebrow. “You think I’m too old for this?”
Murong Cheng quickly shook his head. “Of course not!”
Murong Yan glared at him playfully and climbed the ladder, retrieving the paintings from the top shelf, handing them down one by one. Murong Cheng carefully received them, holding the ladder steady with his other hand, worried Murong Yan might fall.
Murong Yan, noticing his concern, didn’t comment. After clearing one cabinet, he climbed down, moved the ladder to the next one, and continued.
After filling both trolleys, he climbed down again. Murong Cheng held the ladder, watching him anxiously. As he reached the second-to-last step, Murong Yan suddenly decided to tease him.
He pretended to miss a step, his right foot landing on the floor, his body swaying, and then falling into Murong Cheng’s arms.
Murong Cheng, startled, quickly steadied him.
“Yan-ge, be careful!”
Murong Yan wrapped his arms around Murong Cheng’s shoulders, his chin resting on his neck. “Mmm,” he murmured.
Seeing him clinging to him, Murong Cheng became even more worried. “Yan-ge? Let me help you sit down.”
The scent of Murong Cheng’s shower gel was intoxicating. He didn’t want to let go. He nuzzled against his neck.
Sensing something amiss, Murong Cheng pushed him away gently. “Yan-ge…”
He pushed against Murong Yan’s chest, but his touch was light, almost a caress. He felt something hard pressing against him through the thin fabric of their work suits.
“Murong Yan!” he exclaimed, his face flushing. “Can you stand? I can’t hold you up.”
“Oh,” Murong Yan said, releasing him and standing up straight.
Murong Cheng: “Next time, I’ll climb the ladder. You stay down here and catch me.”
“No need. I was just teasing you,” Murong Yan said with a smile, reaching out to pinch his cheek, then stopped, noticing the dust on his gloves. “Come here.”
“Huh?” Murong Cheng looked at him, confused.
He didn’t move, so Murong Yan leaned in and quickly kissed his cheek.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Murong Cheng asked, blinking at him, then looking down at his feet.
“I’m fine. Let’s go,” Murong Yan said, pushing the loaded trolley towards the door.
After three days of transporting and arranging paintings, Murong Cheng and Murong Yan had become expert art handlers, their services free of charge.
With everything in place, Murong Cheng walked around the exhibition space several times, checking for any issues. He was both envious and proud of Chi Yu. They had been like family for years, and he was excited and nervous about the upcoming opening.
“Okay, stop fussing. Xin-jie will do a final check and then lock up,” Chi Yu said, stopping him from another round of inspections. “Come on, let’s get dinner. Thank you both for your help.”
Xin-jie was Chi Yu’s agent, who had just arrived from A City after attending to some urgent matters.
“Still calling him CEO Murong? So formal,” Murong Cheng said, glancing at his boyfriend.
“What should I call him then? Yan-ge, like you?” Chi Yu asked, amused.
Murong Cheng: “I wouldn’t mind.”
Chi Yu: “I would. It feels like your CEO is taking advantage of me.”
How is he taking advantage of you? He’s your ex-boyfriend’s older brother, Murong Cheng almost blurted out.
He swallowed the words. “Then just call him Murong Yan.”
Chi Yu: “That feels like I’m taking advantage of him.”
Murong Cheng: “…Let’s just go eat. Where are we going?”
The art center was located in a more upscale area than their neighborhood. Chi Yu took them to a Japanese izakaya and led them to a private room.
The restaurant was elegant, the food exquisite: wagyu beef, yakitori, grilled eel. Chi Yu ordered a feast and then added a bottle of plum wine.
“My exhibition opens tomorrow morning. Don’t get me drunk,” Murong Cheng said, raising an eyebrow.
Chi Yu: “You need to improve your alcohol tolerance. One glass and you’re out. Pathetic.”
Murong Cheng: “I know. But it’s too late now.”
Chi Yu: “This is for Murong Yan and me. You can have juice.”
He handed Murong Cheng the drinks menu. “Order something, little one.”
Murong Cheng glared at him. “Who are you calling ‘little one’? Who helped you set up your exhibition? Have you no conscience?”
Chi Yu chuckled. “Anyone who can’t handle alcohol is a ‘little one.’ Should I order you a kids’ meal?”
Murong Cheng: @#&*%
The waiter brought the plum wine and poured it into small ceramic cups.
Chi Yu raised his glass. “Thank you both for your help. Especially you, CEO Murong.”
He downed his drink in one gulp.
“Why so formal?” Murong Cheng asked, feeling slightly uncomfortable. “We’ve known each other for years.”
Chi Yu refilled his glass. “Courtesy is important.”
“You’re too kind, Teacher Chi,” Murong Yan said, also finishing his drink after a nod from Chi Yu.
“One of you calling him CEO Murong, the other calling him Teacher Chi, as if you’ve just met,” Murong Cheng said, rolling his eyes. “Fine, fine, I’ll join you then.”
He reached for his wine glass, but Murong Yan intercepted it, drinking the contents in one gulp.
Murong Yan: “Ah Cheng can’t handle alcohol. I’ll drink his share.”
Chi Yu nodded. “Understandable.”
Murong Cheng: “…”
Dishes of grilled meat arrived, and they chatted while eating.
Chi Yu: “You’re still in H City? What about Guangyu?”
News of Murong Yan’s dismissal and their extended stay in H City had spread throughout the industry, but Chi Yu, busy with his exhibition, hadn’t heard.
Murong Cheng briefly explained their situation. “Yan-ge isn’t going back to Guangyu.”
Chi Yu nodded. “With his influence at Lingyu, and the UZ Research Center, he’ll be busy enough. So Lingyu took back control of Guangyu?”
“Guangyu…” Murong Cheng hesitated, exchanging a look with Murong Yan.
It now belonged to Murong Jing. They had avoided mentioning him in front of Chi Yu.
“Don’t tell me they gave it to Murong Jing,” Chi Yu said, a bitter smile on his lips.
Murong Cheng hesitated, then nodded. “Yes.”
“CEO Murong just let him have it?” Chi Yu asked, looking at Murong Yan.
Murong Yan’s expression didn’t change. “Chairman Murong took control of Guangyu. I don’t know who he appointed.”
Chi Yu clearly hadn’t moved on from Murong Jing. Murong Cheng sighed inwardly and quickly changed the subject.
“Let’s not talk about that. The food’s getting cold. Let’s toast to Chi Yu’s successful exhibition!” He picked up three skewers of grilled wagyu beef. “I can’t drink, so let’s clink skewers instead!”
He held out his skewer. Murong Yan and Chi Yu followed suit.
Their skewers clinked together.
“To success,” Murong Yan said.
Chi Yu’s mood brightened. “Thank you, my dear friend Xiao Cheng, and thank you to Xiao Cheng’s boyfriend! I’ll paint a portrait for you two after the exhibition, how about that?”
Murong Cheng’s eyes lit up. “Really? To be immortalized by the great artist Chi Yu! What an honor!”
Chi Yu took a bite of his skewer. “Any preferences? What style do you want?”
Murong Cheng glanced at Murong Yan. “I’m fine with anything.”
Chi Yu: “Then I’ll surprise you. Consider it a wedding gift.”
Murong Cheng blushed and looked away. “Who said we’re getting married?”
Chi Yu looked at Murong Yan. “Don’t you intend to marry our Xiao Cheng, CEO Murong?”
Murong Yan: “Of course, I do.”
“See? He said so,” Chi Yu shrugged innocently.
Murong Cheng: “His word alone doesn’t count.”
Murong Yan raised an eyebrow, looking at him. “Oh?”
Murong Cheng quickly backtracked. “Even if we do get married, it won’t be anytime soon! Chi Yu, you’re just trying to avoid painting!”
Chi Yu teased him. “How is that avoiding work? If you get married tomorrow, I’ll paint it tonight!”
Murong Yan’s expression turned serious, as if actually considering the proposal. “That’s not impossible.”
“Murong Yan…” Murong Cheng grabbed his wine glass, pretending to drink. “You two are ganging up on me because I can’t drink. Fine, I’ll drink it! And then I won’t be able to attend your exhibition opening tomorrow.”
Murong Yan quickly took the glass from him.
Chi Yu grabbed the bottle. “Okay, okay, we’ll stop. No more alcohol tonight. Otherwise, neither of you will be able to make it tomorrow. We’ll celebrate properly after my exhibition closes in two weeks.”
Murong Cheng nodded, raising his teacup. “Deal. I might even surprise you with my newfound alcohol tolerance and drink you both under the table.”
Chi Yu and Murong Yan exchanged amused glances. “We’ll see.”
Murong Cheng cleared his throat. “Once again, congratulations to my dear Chi Yu on his upcoming exhibition!”
Murong Yan: “To Teacher Chi’s successful exhibition.”
Chi Yu: “To Xiao Cheng’s thriving livestreaming career and CEO Murong’s continued success.”
They clinked their teacups together.
