Since that conversation, the relationship between the two became more natural.
Fang Mingyan was a person who distinguished between public and private affairs clearly. When at home, he rarely discussed work and treated Zhuo Yue more like a friend than a boss. He considered issues very carefully, fully respecting the other person’s thoughts. Once he made a decision, however, he rarely changed it, demonstrating a strong sense of control in his personality.
For example, the matter of Zhuo Yue moving.
His assistant, Lin Hui, found an apartment for Zhuo Yue. Zhuo Ye talked to Fang Mingyan about moving there, but the other party put it on hold saying, ‘It will wait until he recovers’. Two weeks had passed, and Zhuo Yue’s cold had improved a lot. He was planning to bring it up tonight, but the owner of the house had not come back yet.
The hour hand moved to ten o’clock, and the driver, Chen Li, called back with a very anxious tone. Fang Mingyan had three places to socialize in the evening. He had already drunk a lot at the first two places, and the last stop was Lost City. He was supposed to come out in half an hour, but the driver ended up waiting for more than an hour with no one in sight. His phone went straight to voicemail. Afraid that Fang Mingyan might have drunk too much and encountered an accident, and without a membership card to enter, Chen Li waited anxiously outside.
Zhou Chi tried several times, but his phone was still turned off. He said worriedly, “It doesn’t usually happen like this…”
Zhuo Yue asked, “Whose social gatherings is it?”
Zhou Chi sighed, “Zhang Jing, the third young master of Fengchi Group. Probably, he made an appointment with some bosses in the film and television industry.”
Zhuo Yue frowned. He had heard of the name of this third young master. He was an uneducated playboy who used his father’s money to open a film and television investment company. He frequented various entertainment venues every night and had affairs with many artists. Rumour had it that he indulged in all sorts of extravagant activities without discrimination between men and women. Fang Mingyan hadn’t come out for a long time, and he was probably drunk.
He looked up at the clock and said, “I have the membership card there. Let me go check it out.”
Zhou Chi hesitated for a moment but agreed. He personally drove and dropped Zhuo Ye off to the downstairs of Lost City. He repeatedly instructed him to bring Fang Mingyan out after entering and not to linger inside the private room. Zhuo Yue nodded and followed the waiter upstairs.
The moment he pushed the door open, the warm and sultry air hit his face, making Zhu Yue’s throat dry. There were quite a few people in the spacious private room. The vibrant and flickering lights blurred the contours, and the music carried intermittent ambiguous whispers. The first thing that caught his eye was the two almost naked women on the small stage, entwining their bodies in sync with the silver pole. On the sofas facing the stage sat six or seven guests, each accompanied by some scantily dressed young men and women, some kneeling, some sitting, and some boldly flirting, even straddling the guests with their thighs open.
Zhuo Yue had never seen such a situation before and felt goosebumps all over his body. The light in the sofa area was too dark. He looked around and couldn’t identify Fang Mingyan. He was hesitating whether to get closer and look closer when a long-drawn-out female voice sounded from behind, “Hey, whose distinguished guest is this?”
Her voice attracted the attention of many people. Zhuo Yue didn’t want to cause trouble, so he immediately explained his purpose, “I’m here to see Chairman Fang, Fang Mingyan.”
“This face looks familiar…” The man sitting in the middle of the sofa looked him up and down, raised his eyebrows and asked, “Are you an artist from his company?”
“Yes.”
“Look, this guy Mingyan keeps all the good stuff for himself.” The man curled his lips and smiled ambiguously, “Come and sit here.”
Zhuo Yue stood still.
“You didn’t have ears, huh? Third Young Master asked you to come over and sit down. Why are you still standing there?” said a fat man with a sinister face.
Only then did Zhuo Yue realise that the person who had just spoken to him was Zhang Jing, and said sternly, “Thank you, Third Young Master. Since Chairman Fang is not here, I won’t bother you.”
“I actually quite like this kind of tone.” Zhang Jing looked at him with a smile, “It sounds so serious. It tickles people’s hearts.” The crowd suddenly burst into ambiguous and flattering laughter. Those sticky glances swept over him as if looking at a naked body through his clothes.
Zhuo Yue felt disgusted, turned around and left, but was grabbed by someone.
It was the fat man who made the move. He grabbed Zhuo Yue’s wrist and pulled it towards the sofa. While pulling, he said, “Okay, stop your act and spend time with Third Young Master. If Third Young Master is happy, you will be popular.”
The fat man had a strong grip, and Zhuo Yue couldn’t shake him off. In a panic, he struggled harder. The fat man’s body swayed and he hit his leg on the coffee table, knocking over a table full of wine glasses. The fat man was in pain and yelled angrily, “Damn it! I’m giving you face, and you still don’t appreciate it!”
The entire private room fell silent, and the atmosphere became somewhat depressing.
“Tsk, that’s interesting.” A look of ferocity flashed in the eyes of Third Young Master Zhang, who was sitting in the middle, and the woman clinging to him immediately and carefully stepped away. He stared at Zhuo Yue and slowly raised the corners of his lips, “Today, I want to see if my invitation, Zhang Jing, can move a Buddha like you.”
Zhuo Yue felt cold, turned around, and ran towards the door, but he was grabbed by the wrist by the two people who surrounded him. This time, he used a lot of strength, yet he couldn’t break free at all.
At this moment, the door was pushed open.
Fang Mingyan, wearing a black coat, walked in, laughing with the people around him.
Fang Mingyan’s gaze fell on the frightened Zhuo Yue. He paused slightly, halting his steps. The two individuals who were holding onto Zhuo Yue released him awkwardly upon seeing Fang Mingyan enter. One of them explained, “Young Master Ming, this person came in looking for you. Third Young Master asked him to sit, but he suddenly lost his temper and even injured Hua ge…”
The moment he saw the man, Zhuo Yue’s heart calmed down inexplicably. He was about to explain the whole story when he heard Zhang Jing say, “Mingyan, your artist has quite the attitude; he doesn’t even regard me seriously.”
Fang Mingyan glanced at the broken cup on the ground and curled his lips at Zhang Jing, “I didn’t teach him well. I’ve been too indulgent and spoiled him recently. He doesn’t even understand the rules. Don’t be offended, Third Young Master.” After speaking, he turned around and looked at Zhuo Yue. He then said coldly, “Go and apologise to Third Young Master!”
This sentence was structured as a command, carrying a strong sense of oppression that sent shivers down Zhuo Yue’s spine.
He looked at the man in front of him in disbelief.
Embarrassment, confusion, discomfort, and grievance surged from the bottom of his heart. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he forcefully held them back.
When their eyes met, Fang Mingyan’s dark eyes glowed with an undeniable cold light, carrying calm composure and unquestionable majesty.
After standing still for a moment, Zhuo Yue pursed his lips, walked up to Zhang Jing, and said, “Third Young Master, I was wrong.” Zhuo Ye maintained a respectful attitude but did not act subservient. In his gestures and movements, there was a unique demeanour. Zhang Jing, who had always liked handsome young men, couldn’t help but feel an itch in his heart when he saw Zhuo Yue at a close distance. However, after mingling in the entertainment industry for many years, he could still distinguish between trivial and significant matters.
Fang Mingyan was not someone to be messed with.
In the words, whether ‘indulgent’ or ‘spoiled’, they all showed his affiliation and told him in detail that the two of them had a close relationship. The act of asking Zhuo Yue to apologise also gave him enough face. If he continued to pester him now, he would not only appear to be petty-minded but also be suspected of stealing someone’s lover. For a businessperson, connections were the most important. There were plenty of handsome male artists in the circle, so he certainly wouldn’t jeopardise his relationship for someone as insignificant as Zhuo Yue.
Zhang Jing swept away the gloom on his face and said with a smile, “Mingyan’s companion is of course considered to be one of his own people, so how could I be concerned about such a small matter?” He raised his hand, “Since we are here, let’s sit down together and have a good time.”
“Okay, let’s continue drinking.” Fang Mingyan also smiled and sat down on the sofa.
The private area suddenly became lively again.
Fang Mingyan didn’t even look at Zhuo Yue again, leaving him standing alone and helpless. Zhuo Yue hesitated for a while and finally walked around to the man and sat down. The two men were talking about business, chatting and laughing very harmoniously. He didn’t understand, so he just sat quietly and sent text messages to the driver and Zhou Chi. After sending the message, he leaned back and felt something strange, and then he realised that Fang Mingyan had put his arm on the back of the sofa. He had a very strange feeling when he leaned against him like this, as if he was being held by him, placing himself within this man’s sphere of influence.
“Pour the wine.” Fang Mingyan handed him the empty glass, and Zhuo Yue poured half a glass for him and handed it over.
The man tightened his arms and held Zhuo Yue in his arms. His words were full of alcohol-tinged ambiguity, “I remember teaching you how to accompany someone for a drink. Have you forgotten all about it?”
Zhuo Yue froze and looked up. There was a warning in Fang Mingyan’s slightly narrowed eyes, and he pressed the cup to his lips teasingly, “Try it, this wine is good.”
He took a sip, and before the cold wine warmed up in his mouth, he was already covered in a kiss full of heat. Zhuo Yue was startled and put his hands on the man’s chest, trying to retreat. Fang Mingyan didn’t give him this chance. He held the back of his head with one hand and hooked his waist with the other, forcing the kiss to deepen. After Zhuo Yue swallowed every drop of the drink, he got a chance to breathe again.
“It’s very sweet.” The man rubbed his fingers on his lips and said frivolously, “You came all the way here because you can’t sleep without me, eh?”
After being forcibly kissed, Zhuo Yue’s mind was in chaos until he caught a glimpse of Zhang Jing looking at him out of the corner of his eye and it finally became clear. He looked at the man in front of him, his eyes moved, and then he slowly leaned over, rested his head on the man’s chest, and said softly, “I miss you.”
There was a slight smile on Fang Mingyan’s lips, and he rubbed his hair lovingly, then turned to Zhang Jing and said helplessly, “I’m afraid I have to go first.”
“What’s the rush? We’re all on the same side. Feel free to do whatever you want.” Zhang Jing’s smooth eyes flicked back and forth on Zhuo Yue.
Zhuo Yue trembled slightly, unconsciously grabbing Fang Mingyan’s arm and burying his head a little further.
“He tends to be shy in front of others, and I can’t have the best time. Why don’t we get together some other time when we have free time.” The man smiled, stood up and waved to the others, “Everyone, enjoy yourselves. Tonight’s bills are on me.” After saying that, he put his arms around Zhuo Yue’s waist and walked out.
Zhuo Yue allowed Fang Mingyan to hold him in his arms, but his steps quickened unknowingly as if he were escaping in a hurry.
Outside the door, the cold winter night wind blew into his face and into his collar, blowing away all the heat from my body. Zhuo Yue stood silently, his chest heaving under his thick coat as if he wanted to spit out all the dirty breath in his chest.
Chen Li saw them coming out and immediately came over to open the car door.
The black car drove smoothly on the road, and the reversing street lights cast a faint light on their faces, flickering on and off. Zhuo Yue hadn’t completely relaxed until this moment, quietly looking out the window in the back seat.
“Why are you here?” A man’s deep voice sounded next to him.
If you were scared, why did you go in?
Zhuo Yue was silent for a while and said, “I couldn’t reach you, and I was afraid that something might have happened to you.”
“Whether something happens to me or not, if you go into a place like that, it’s the same as throwing yourself into a trap.”
“I want… to find you.” Zhuo Yue sat with his eyes lowered, and his voice was very soft.
Between light and darkness, Fang Mingyan’s eyes softened for a moment, and he slowly said, “How do you think things would end up if I were to confront Zhang Jing for you, damaging our relationship?”
Zhuo Yue was stunned; his lips moved, but no sound came out.
“In this industry, many things are beyond one’s control,” Fang Mingyan looked at him, “It’s like I know Zhang Jing is a scumbag, but for the sake of business, I still have to maintain a facade of camaraderie with him. Some matters don’t necessarily have to be resolved through direct confrontation.” He paused, “I don’t mean to ask you to sell your body to please others. I just want to tell you that you should learn how to deal with such things skillfully alone. I can protect you once or twice, but I can’t be by your side all the time. Zhuo Yue, after the ups and downs you’ve experienced, you should understand that every edge will be worn down through trials and tribulations. If you insist on being tough, you’ll only end up hurting yourself more.”
Zhuo Yue was silent for a long time and asked, “In this situation, would it be better for me to sit down and drink with him?”
Seeing his serious expression, the smile in the man’s eyes grew thicker, and he said nonchalantly, “There are a lot of lessons to be learnt from drinking. Seeing that you went deep into the tiger’s den to save me today, I will reluctantly teach you once.”
Zhuo Yue had a smile on his lips and said, “Okay.”
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