Chapter 55

       Jiang Tongyan was enjoying his love life to the fullest, and after returning to the country, his career development was going quite smoothly as well.       The office had not even finished renovations yet, but several deals had already been closed. Everything was going so well that Jiang Tongyan was riding high, feeling full of confidence and already starting to plan how to spend Christmas with Qian Xiaoke.       For Qian Xiaoke, Christmas was really just an ordinary workday—at most, a bit more festive. The company would put up a Christmas tree in the lobby, and the boss would hand out big apples to everyone.       But for Jiang Tongyan, Christmas was a major occasion.       He was a kid who had grown up overseas. To him, Christmas was equivalent to the Spring Festival in China. It was something that had to be celebrated in a big way.       He started making preparations early, even hauling an enormous Christmas tree straight into Qian Xiaoke’s apartment.       Qian Xiaoke actually liked holidays too, but when he had been on his own before, he always kept things simple. The main reason was to save money. Now things were different. With Jiang Tongyan around, even if Qian Xiaoke wanted to save, his man would not allow it.       “This is the first holiday we’re celebrating together,” Jiang Tongyan said. “We can’t be careless about it.”       When he said this, he was in the middle of measuring Qian Xiaoke’s waist, hips, and head circumference.       He was being ridiculously extra. He insisted on having Santa Claus and reindeer costumes custom-made. Buying them online was not acceptable. As a wealthy man, Jiang Tongyan had high standards and strict demands when it came to life, so everything had to be custom.       Qian Xiaoke said, “Santa outfits are big and baggy, so you don’t need to measure so accurately.”       “Who told you you’re wearing Santa’s outfit?” Jiang Tongyan smiled faintly. “You’re the reindeer. The one I’m going to ride.”       Nasty!       Shameless!       Qian Xiaoke blushed and swung his little fist, lightly punching Jiang Tongyan in the chest.       Jiang Tongyan had far too many unspeakable thoughts. Who would have guessed that Boss Jiang, who looked so handsome, suave, and refined on the outside, actually had a head full of colour-coded, adults-only PowerPoint slides?       To satisfy his own twisted tastes, he even personally designed Qian Xiaoke’s reindeer costume.       Anywhere that should be exposed had to be exposed.       Cute and sexy—Qian Xiaoke deserved it.       The day before Christmas, the head of the administrative department went to Cheng Sen with a proposal: they could organise a dinner outing for single employees after work on Christmas Day.       At the time, Qian Xiaoke was helping Cheng Sen tidy up the tea set on the office coffee table. When he heard the supervisor say that, his hand jerked, and he nearly dropped one of Chairman Cheng’s teacups, each worth several thousand yuan.       Still shaken, Qian Xiaoke held the teacup with both hands and pricked up his ears, desperately hoping Chairman Cheng would disagree.       So far, Qian Xiaoke’s relationship with Jiang Tongyan was still a secret. Although he had always lived openly and honestly, Jiang Tongyan was different—he was a partner in the company, practically a boss. Qian Xiaoke worried that if everyone found out he was the ‘boss’s wife’, people would start keeping their distance from him.       Qian Xiaoke thought about a lot of things.       He was also a little embarrassed. Back when he and a few coworkers had agreed that whoever got into a relationship first would be a dog, yet he had gone and secretly gotten a boyfriend and such a fierce one at that. He was afraid that others would feel envious or jealous and end up under psychological pressure.       Of course, that last reason was entirely his own overthinking—pure self-directed drama when he had nothing better to do.       In any case, he simply was not ready to make the relationship public yet. He always felt the timing was not right.       Jiang Tongyan had been preparing for this Christmas for a long time. No matter what, Qian Xiaoke could not let his mighty Jiang be disappointed.       Reject it!       Please, Chairman Cheng—reject it!       “You decide how to arrange it,” Cheng Sen said. He had never been very enthusiastic about group employee activities. He felt that most people probably did not enjoy company gatherings anyway. Even if coworkers went out to eat together after work, they likely would not be able to relax truly. That said, as a boss, and knowing that collective activities were sometimes unavoidable, he could not be bothered to manage them. He left it to the admin team to handle, as long as they didn’t go overboard.       Hearing Cheng Sen say that, Qian Xiaoke internally collapsed. He felt like he had gone bald on the spot.       The head of the administrative department left with light, cheerful steps, leaving Qian Xiaoke behind to pack up the tea set with a deeply worried expression.       He had to come up with a proper excuse to turn down the event tomorrow night!       He absolutely could not go. Otherwise, his fierce boyfriend might blow up the entire apartment building.       Qian Xiaoke was anxious and racked his brain, but he could not come up with a reasonable excuse.       That evening after work, Jiang Tongyan was busy with business and had to work late. He messaged Qian Xiaoke, telling him to leave first and not wait for him.       But how could Qian Xiaoke not wait—especially at a time like this?       Qian Xiaoke stood at the front desk, watching his coworkers leave one by one, playing Candy Crush on his phone while waiting for Jiang Tongyan.       Jiang Tongyan had no idea Qian Xiaoke was still waiting outside. He and Cheng Sen discussed a project proposal until after eight in the evening.       By a little after eight o’clock, the entire floor was left with only the three of them.       Qian Xiaoke had used up all his energy in the Candy Crush game, and out of sheer boredom, he had no idea when he ended up slumped there and fell asleep.       After Jiang Tongyan finalised the plan with Cheng Sen, he prepared to leave. His delicate wife was waiting at home—there was no way he was going to keep wasting time with Cheng Sen.       When he stepped out, the motion-sensor lights in the hallway turned on. He had not expected anyone else to be there, and when he suddenly saw someone lying at the front desk, it startled him.       Qian Xiaoke was wearing his white down jacket, hood pulled up, sprawled there fast asleep, looking like a small cake that had just been baked.       Jiang Tongyan took a closer look and smiled, his heart growing warm and soft.       He walked over quietly and used his phone to secretly take a dozen photos of Qian Xiaoke. The guy was sleeping so soundly he was almost drooling—who knew what sweet dream he was having.       After taking the photos, Jiang Tongyan poked Qian Xiaoke’s cheek with his finger.       Soft and plumper.       Ever since Qian Xiaoke had gotten together with Jiang Tongyan, his life had been carefree. He ate well every day and had gained weight straight from happiness.       But a chubbier Qian Xiaoke was even cuter. Every time Jiang Tongyan held him, it felt like hugging a fat little rabbit.       Of course, Jiang Tongyan dared not tell Qian Xiaoke that he had gotten fat. Ever since he found out he would be meeting Jiang Tongyan’s parents after New Year’s Day, he had been yelling nonstop about losing weight. If he took it seriously and stopped eating properly, the one who would worry would still be Jiang Tongyan.       When Jiang Tongyan poked him like that, the person sleeping there jolted awake.       Still half-asleep, Qian Xiaoke lifted his head and instinctively raised his hand to wipe his mouth.       Jiang Tongyan laughed at him. “Were you dreaming about me?”       “Huh?”       “Was I in your dream also a feast for the eyes?”       “Huh?”       “Look at how greedy you are. Come on, let’s go. Go home. Go home and your husband will satisfy you.”       “Huh?”       Qian Xiaoke looked at him. He was too embarrassed to admit that he really had been dreaming—but there had been no Jiang Tongyan in the dream, only a gigantic piece of cheesecake.       “Don’t just stand there. It’s already past eight,” Jiang Tongyan said as he pulled his hand. “Let’s go. Eat first, then go home and have sex.”       “Sex again?” Qian Xiaoke stood up and obediently zipped up his down jacket.       “What do you mean by that?” Jiang Tongyan instantly became alert and glared at him. “Are you tired of me?”       He turned around and pinched Qian Xiaoke’s cheek. “You’re really a love scammer! We’ve only been together for how long? And you’re already bored?”       Qian Xiaoke did not feel any pain at all. He smiled like a little candy ball. “No, no. What I meant was, husband, your stamina is really amazing.”       Jiang Tongyan was pleased. He rubbed Qian Xiaoke’s face, picked up his small backpack, took his hand, and left.       Sometimes, the more you fear something, the more it happens.       Qian Xiaoke was still thinking about what excuse he should use tomorrow to get out of the group activity when he followed Jiang Tongyan into the elevator. The moment they stepped out of the company building, they ran straight into several coworkers.       Jiang Tongyan had long wanted to make their relationship public. He wanted to send a message in the company group saying “Thanks everyone, we’re together,” tag Qian Xiaoke, and even hand out red envelopes. He had been fully prepared. But Qian Xiaoke had always felt too shy, so it never happened.       In hindsight, it would have been better to tell everyone earlier.       Usually, the two of them did not walk too close after work. They would only take another side road before hailing a taxi together.       Jiang Tongyan’s house and car were still not settled yet, and he complained about it all the time, but Qian Xiaoke thought this was actually quite nice.       Because they left late that day and most coworkers were already gone, they had let their guard down and walked out holding hands. Who would have thought that a few coworkers—the most gossip-loving ones—had not gone straight home after work? They had gone to a small restaurant nearby to eat together, and just happened to come out at that moment, passing by the company on their way to the subway station.       Several pairs of eyes met.       Qian Xiaoke’s soul left his body.       Jiang Tongyan looked smug.       As for those coworkers, the flames of gossip burned fiercely in their eyes.       Was this a case of unspoken rules¹being sugar baby?       Or a proper, legitimate relationship?       Qian Xiaoke was impressive—Chairman Jiang had only been here for a short time and the two of them were already together!       They would have to learn from Qian Xiaoke’s flirting techniques. Maybe next month they could also land a rich partner!       After a moment of delicate silence, Jiang Tongyan calmly held Qian Xiaoke’s hand and walked over to greet everyone.       “You guys are still here this late?” he said, composed and unhurried.       Chairman Jiang truly lived up to the title. Even in a situation like this, he remained unfazed.       “Be careful on the way,” Jiang Tongyan said. “Xiaoke and I will head home first.”       Xiaoke and I.       Going home.       Qian Xiaoke lowered his head and pressed his lips together. He was so guilty that he did not dare look at his coworkers. He was dragged along by Jiang Tongyan straight into a taxi.       Once inside, Qian Xiaoke immediately sprawled across Jiang Tongyan’s lap.       “Oh no, oh no, we’re done for!” he whined. “How did we get found out?”       “So what if they found out?” Jiang Tongyan did not care. “They should have noticed long ago.”       This was good. At last, they did not need to keep up a secret relationship anymore.       “Let me ask you,” Jiang Tongyan said sourly, a little unhappy. “Do you think I’m something to be ashamed of? Is that why you’re always sneaking around?”       Qian Xiaoke lifted his head, clicked his tongue, and said, “You don’t understand.”       “How do I not understand?” Jiang Tongyan flicked his forehead. “Say it. I’m listening.”       Qian Xiaoke replied in a sticky, mumbled voice, “I was just worried.”       He let out a small ‘ah’ and flopped back onto Jiang Tongyan’s lap. “What if they find out about us and start calling me the boss’s wife every day? Wouldn’t that be so embarrassing?”

T/N:
Merry Christmass
★˛˚˛*˛°.˛*.˛°˛.*★˚˛*˛°.˛*.˛°˛.*★*★* 。*˛.
˛°_██_*.。*./ \ .˛* .˛。.˛.*.★* *★ 。*
˛. (´• ̮•)*.。*/♫.♫\*˛.* ˛_Π_____.e ˛* ˛*
.°( . • . ) ˛°./• ‘♫ ‘ •\.˛*./______/~＼*. ˛*.。˛* ˛.*。
*(…’•’.. ) *˛╬╬╬╬╬˛°.｜田田 ｜門｜╬╬╬╬╬*˚ .˛

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