Zhou Chaosheng’s good mood lasted until the next morning. As usual, he turned on his computer, moved the mouse to click on the email inbox, and browsed the latest few emails, sent by the bodyguard Xu Guang had arranged to follow Jiang Yuanye.
Only after he finished looking through the schedule, photos, and videos about Jiang Yuanye sent by the bodyguard did the smile on Zhou Chaosheng’s lips slowly fade away.
There is a thirteen-hour time difference between Country M and Country Z. Around eleven o’clock yesterday noon was the time Jiang Yuanye had text him.
Across an ocean and more than five thousand kilometers, Jiang Yuanye was not at home anxiously waiting for his message or pacing endlessly downstairs at his company, but at a dinner party clinking glasses with others.
Before that, the other party had attended a product launch, went to the celebration banquet that evening, gave a speech encouraging employees on stage, and after stepping down, did not leave immediately—chatted with some employees, then went with a few well-known executives in the industry to a private room next door to continue discussing matters.
In other words, when Jiang Yuanye sent him those messages, he was socializing with others.
So half-hearted.
Zhou Chaosheng could hardly tell anymore which of the other party’s words were true and which were false.
Back to three days ago. That afternoon, as soon as he learned Jiang Yuanye had booked a flight to Kyoto, he had his assistant book the earliest flight to Country M, perfectly avoiding him.
He took the 6 p.m. flight, a fifteen-hour direct flight. Upon landing, it was 9 p.m. local time in the U.S. He adjusted to the time difference at the hotel, and on the morning of the 19th, went directly by car to a suburban villa for a social event.
They broke up at 5:36 p.m. on the 17th. Jiang Yuanye landed in Kyoto at 9:20 p.m. that evening.
The other party went straight from the airport to his house to look for him, didn’t find him, then went to the company, still didn’t find him. In the end, he called around asking friends before learning that he was not in the country at that time.
Up to now, Zhou Chaosheng was still satisfied—if ignoring the fact that Jiang Yuanye attended all kinds of events during this period as if nothing had happened.
In a not-so-good mood, Zhou Chaosheng called Weisen and asked, “Any major events happening recently? Besides fashion shows.”
Wiesen thought for a moment. “There are, but I already declined them for you two months ago. At that time, you said you didn’t have time…”
Zhou Chaosheng interrupted, “I have time now.”
Wiesen’s expression was hard to describe, like saying “Boss lost his mind? Still rushing to find trouble for himself?”
On the afternoon of the 20th, he took Wiesen from New York to Switzerland to attend the three-day Davos Forum.
At this international forum in the name of economics, leaders from all sectors and heads of governments gathered. More than 2,800 participants from over 120 countries and regions in politics, business, academia, international organizations, and media attended, including over 60 government leaders.
Jiang Yuanye was also on the invitation list.
The organizers arranged for him and Jiang Yuanye to sit in the same row, only two seats apart, so their eyes could inadvertently meet in the air.
This year’s Davos Forum theme was “Rebuilding Trust.”
At the opening ceremony, World Economic Forum President BΓΈrge Brende introduced that this annual meeting was held under “the most complex geopolitical and geoeconomic backdrop in decades.”
“The most urgent challenges we face globally include climate change, future pandemics, cyberattacks, etc. The only way to respond is for all countries, nations, and enterprises to cooperate. Even in this increasingly fragmented world, there are still opportunities to come together and find common solutions…”
Jiang Yuanye wore a perfectly tailored suit, his hair styled meticulously. Compared with the two CEOs sitting beside him, he looked like a model just off the runway from fashion week, completely out of place among others.
Those amber eyes were always focused on the speaker on stage, seemingly listening attentively—if Zhou Chaosheng didn’t know this person.
Seemed to be listening, but in fact was avoiding eye contact with him.
Zhou Chaosheng withdrew his gaze, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly, an indescribable hostility gradually growing in his heart.
Saying he missed him, felt guilty to him, liked him the most, the most, the most…
All of it was fcking bullshit.
—
Once the forum ended, Zhou Chaosheng flew back to New York.
As soon as he got off the plane, a designated car came to pick him up. He told the driver the destination and then closed his eyes to rest.
He had two places to go today. One was the local branch office of Yuanhang Group, the other was the city of Standford, about 58 kilometers northeast of New York.
When he arrived at the branch office, the senior executives were already lined up in two rows outside the elevator, waiting solemnly. As soon as they saw him, they came forward to exchange pleasantries, blocking the elevator door with their hands so Zhou Chaosheng could enter the private elevator first.
Only after he entered did the others follow in one after another, then spread out on both sides to stand around him. Everyone stared at the red numbers steadily climbing on the elevator display, foreheads breaking into a sweat, all worried that something might go wrong in the upcoming meeting.
Although this branch office was just one of Yuanhang Group's commercial divisions, its development in New York had gone quite well. The company’s building had already reached fifty stories.
Zhou Chaosheng led the group to the top floor for the meeting.
A few years ago, people still called him “Xiao President Zhou.” It wasn’t until Zhou Yuanbo gradually handed over most of the power in his hands that Zhou Chaosheng was finally promoted from “Xiao President Zhou” to “ President Zhou”
Seated at the head of the conference table, the senior executives all looked like shivering quails, not daring to make a sound.
Zhou Chaosheng, following the principle of not wasting everyone’s time, concisely pointed out the various loopholes in the financial reports from the past two years. He had printed out the relevant data and specific problems to distribute to everyone present. When the thick stack of materials landed in front of them, everyone's heart skipped a beat—no one had expected this young executive to spot such subtle errors in such a short time.
Soon, Zhou Chaosheng brought out several more pieces of evidence. Before anyone could react, he mercilessly singled out a few high-level executives who had tampered with the financial reports. Using both soft and hard tactics, with just a few words, he made those “old hands” reluctantly accept the outcome of being dismissed.
Even the usually imposing CEO Ronald, in front of Zhou Chaosheng, was like a beast whose claws and teeth had been pulled—head lowered, not daring to say a single word.
Once he had dealt with those matters, Zhou Chaosheng asked the remaining people to take turns reporting their PowerPoint presentations. After witnessing his thunderous methods, the high-level executives were already soaked in cold sweat. When they heard his instructions, none dared delay even a second. Each stood up in turn, orderly and efficient, to report on the current project statuses to Zhou Chaosheng.
The meeting lasted more than an hour. Glancing at the sky full of dark clouds outside the window, Zhou Chaosheng said “Meeting’s over” in English, then stood up and left.
The moment he moved, the group of senior executives also stood up quickly, following behind, intending to escort him downstairs.
As Zhou Chaosheng walked out of the meeting room surrounded by the senior staff, the employees on the same floor moved swiftly. Those who were craning their necks shrank back behind their desks; those peeking outside the meeting room turned and pretended to be busy...
Once Zhou Chaosheng passed by, those curious, amazed, admiring, and appreciative gazes followed him like shadows. Not until he disappeared into the elevator did they slowly retract their eyes.
Inside the spacious elevator, only Zhou Chaosheng and Wiesen were present. The latter had politely declined the senior executives' offer to send him off and reassured them to focus on work—President Zhou had other appointments and wouldn’t stay long.
“President Zhou.”
“Hm?”
Zhou Chaosheng leaned lazily against the elevator handrail and replied in a drawl. When the other person didn’t continue, he lifted his eyelids to glance at him. “Speak if you’ve got something to say.”
Wiesen hesitated for a moment before speaking: “President Jiang…”
“What about him?”
“He’s waiting for you downstairs. The front desk said… it seems he’s been waiting quite a while...” Wiesen trailed off.
Zhou Chaosheng’s expression changed, and his gaze toward Wiesen carried a bit of reproach. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
Wiesen: “……”
Wasn’t it because you said two days ago, don’t report anything related to Jiang Yuanye to me. I don’t want to hear it.
Wiesen looked at the man who, just moments ago at the conference table, had decided the fates of senior executives with a single sentence, such a dictator. Once, he had thought that no person or thing could affect him. Those eyes, deep and still like a pool, never showed the slightest ripple, never stirred for anyone.
But now…
There was a visible trace of anxiety on Zhou Chaosheng’s face.
“Why is this elevator so slow?”
“...President Zhou, this is already a high-speed elevator.”
“Then why build the building so tall?”
Wiesen truly felt his boss was being unreasonable.
Ding. The elevator arrived.
Their President Zhou composed himself once again.
Zhou Chaosheng deliberately slowed his pace, walking neither hurriedly nor too slowly toward the company lobby. It looked like a heavy rain had just passed outside. The gleaming, smooth floor was scattered with puddles and footprints.
When he reached the lobby and didn’t see Jiang Yuanye sitting on the sofa, he frowned, then turned to the front desk to ask, “Where is the person?”
The receptionist, recognizing him as the big boss who had recently come to inspect the company, blushed. She didn’t even react to who he was referring to. “Who… who are you talking about?”
Seeing Zhou Chaosheng’s expression turning impatient, she flinched, suddenly recalling the young man from the East who had come an hour earlier asking to see him. She didn’t dare delay further and quickly pointed outside. “I saw him go out.”
Zhou Chaosheng: “When?”
She glanced at the time on her computer. “Five minutes ago.”
Zhou Chaosheng didn’t even spare a second to say thanks. He turned and ran toward the entrance. Not caring about the slippery floor, all he could think was whether Jiang Yuanye had left in the rain because he couldn’t wait any longer.
This rain was just like a moody person, coming down without warning. When the meeting ended, it had only been overcast, but by the time he reached the elevator, it had turned into a downpour. It was also rush hour now. The lobby was full of people, with even more huddled outside avoiding the rain.
Zhou Chaosheng suddenly stopped in his tracks after rushing out. Among the crowd, he immediately spotted the young man crouching in a corner.
He held an umbrella in his hand, but since he was crouching close to the edge of the shelter, his shoulder was soaked by the rain, and his hair hung down, damp and lifeless.
He looked like a little dog abandoned by the roadside, pathetic and innocent. But Zhou Chaosheng knew this was a deliberate act.
He had known long ago how good Jiang Yuanye was at acting pitiful. In Iceland back then, and again now.
His earlier urgency faded. Seeing the other person was unharmed, Zhou Chaosheng slowed his pace, walking gradually toward him.
Sensing something, Jiang Yuanye turned his head. When he saw him, his amber eyes lit up noticeably. In the hazy downpour, they looked like a rainbow breaking through the clouds, or a meteor, brilliant and dazzling.
“Chaosheng!”
He hurried to stand, but after crouching so long, his legs were a little numb, and his face twitched uncontrollably.
Zhou Chaosheng approached, his expression cold, and his tone as damp and chilly as the raindrops falling on them. “What are you doing here?”
Jiang Yuanye lowered his lashes, and the light that had just risen in his eyes dimmed again. “…To see you.”
“To see me for what?”
“I…” Jiang Yuanye paused, then raised the umbrella in his hand. “I came to pick you up from work.”
“I remember we already broke up.” Zhou Chaosheng’s tone was flat, emotionless, implying there was no need for that anymore.
Just as he was about to turn away, that cool hand gripped his wrist. “Don’t go…”
Zhou Chaosheng didn’t shake him off, but his voice was faint. “If you have something to say, say it quickly. I’m very busy.”
The drizzle continued to fall, splashing water at their feet.
Jiang Yuanye dropped the umbrella and suddenly hugged him from behind. “Don’t push me away…”
Zhou Chaosheng froze for a moment.
Then he lowered his eyes. “You were the one who pushed me away.”
Jiang Yuanye seemed to tremble. “I didn’t push you away…”
“You did.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did.”
“I didn’t!”
“Well, I feel like you did.”
They stayed in that embrace for quite a while. Staff walked past them repeatedly, many casting glances their way, but Jiang Yuanye seemed to no longer care.
Zhou Chaosheng heard the other man take a deep breath. Then, unexpectedly, he laughed and said, “Chaosheng, did you never really believe in my feelings for you from the beginning?”
"....."
“Fine. Let’s just treat it as if we’ve already broken up once.”
Jiang Yuanye let out a soft sigh, released him, and slowly stepped in front of him.
Zhou Chaosheng’s heart had just sunk when he looked up and saw the other party smiling at him, carrying a hint of helplessness and also a bit of gentleness, as he said, “Chaosheng, let me pursue you once more…”
“Is that okay?”
As Jiang Yuanye spoke, he gently held his hand, his eyes filled entirely with him, as if looking at the whole world.
At that moment, Zhou Chaosheng’s mind went blank.
He looked at Jiang Yuanye and kept thinking this person must be a fox spirit reincarnated, and he, the foolish and tyrannical King Zhou of Shang.