Deep in the Night - Chapter 8

DITN: Chapter 8

The next day, Fang Jin returned to the company and was greeted by Manager Xu of Human Resources waiting outside his office, looking as if she had something to say but was hesitating.

“Manager Xu?” Fang Jin said, puzzled.

Xu Cai pointed to the stack of documents in her hand. “Assistant Fang, could we discuss your employment contract?”

Still confused, Fang Jin opened the office door and gestured for her to enter.

When Fang Jin was first transferred to Gu Yuan’s company, he was assigned a small, north-facing office in the very center of the building, with only a vent and no windows. He said nothing at the time, but after Gu Yuan grew accustomed to his hangover cure, he reciprocated by instructing Human Resources to upgrade Fang Jin to a spacious, well-lit office.

The office building overlooked the harbor, and the floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the azure sea. On the other side was a small interior window directly facing the CEO’s office, allowing a clear view of Gu Yuan’s movements across the glass partition.

Fang Jin pulled out a chair for Xu Cai, but out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed the interior window covered with a white cloth.

It had been covered from Gu Yuan’s side.

Fang Jin: “……”

Regaining his composure, Fang Jin sat behind his desk and gestured for her to begin. “Please proceed.”

Xu Cai also noticed the fabric, and her eyelid twitched several times.

“Well, it’s like this. After reviewing your quarterly performance, we’ve decided to increase your current salary by sixty percent. There will also be significant improvements to your year-end bonus, company-provided communication and transportation benefits, and travel allowances. Additionally, there are future welfare measures outlined in the contract.”

She handed over a stack of documents. Fang Jin flipped through them, looking puzzled. “Is this the HR department’s decision?”

“That’s correct,” Xu Cai confirmed immediately, then cleared her throat. “Also, there have been corresponding changes to the contract duration…”

Fang Jin quickly flipped through the pages and saw that the contract duration had been boldly changed to ten years. Early termination would require paying several times the penalty fee, and due to the confidentiality of his position, there would be a ten-year non-compete period after resignation during which he couldn’t work in the same industry.

The appendix at the end of the contract listed in detail all companies considered to be in the same industry, covering virtually all major and medium-sized enterprises in shipping and telecommunications—a long, dense list. If this contract were truly enforced, Fang Jin wouldn’t even consider resigning, because unless he completely changed industries, he’d be left with nothing to eat.

Xu Cai, the human resources manager, likely felt that the proposal was deeply inappropriate. Her usually steady voice carried a hint of uncertainty as she said, “Although the conditions are rather strict, the compensation is still negotiable. We can establish a custom performance evaluation system tailored specifically to your achievements, Assistant Fang. With a reassessment every six months, your salary can be adjusted accordingly…”

Fang Jin asked, “Is this truly the decision of HR?”

Xu Cai replied weakly, “Of course.”

Fang Jin looked at her, then suddenly smiled faintly. He picked up the pen and signed the contract without hesitation. After signing, he neatly folded the document and handed it back, slightly startling Xu Cai. “…Assistant Fang, are you sure you don’t want to think about it further?”

“No need,” Fang Jin said gently. “This is exactly what I hoped for.”

A subtle warmth seemed to fill his eyes, softening his entire demeanor. Xu Cai found herself momentarily stunned.

After Manager Xu left, Fang Jin sat at his desk for a while, staring at the window draped with white cloth.

This morning, Fang Jin drove to the downtown apartment building to pick up Gu Yuan as usual, but when he arrived, Gu Yuan had already left with the driver. Now, Fang Jin realized that Gu Yuan must have come to the office early on purpose for this very reason. He could almost imagine Gu Yuan personally hammering nails into the window frame, clanging away for quite some time before finally hanging up the white cloth with a satisfied look.

Fang Jin stood up and walked to the inner window, leaning forward to peer through it.

By now, Xu Cai should be in the CEO’s office, reporting to Gu Yuan that she had signed the contract. Fang Jin wondered what expression Gu Yuan would have.

Don’t you want me to resign? Fang Jin thought.

As long as you don’t fire me, I swear I’ll never resign. I don’t even mind if you don’t give me a raise.

The white cloth was translucent, allowing faint movements in the opposite office to be visible through the glass. Fang Jin narrowed his eyes, pressing his face against the wall to scrutinize the scene, when suddenly the view darkened.

A second layer had been hung behind the white cloth on the opposite side—presumably Gu Yuan’s suit.

Fang Jin: “………………”

Gu Yuan didn’t come looking for him all morning. But precisely because of this, Fang Jin suddenly found himself unexpectedly idle.

At lunchtime, Fang Jin followed his usual routine and picked up his and Gu Yuan’s lunch boxes to heat them up—both had been prepared at home. Gu Yuan always ate home-cooked meals on Mondays and avoided scheduling business lunches, so every Sunday evening, Fang Jin would prepare three dishes and a soup in a box, which he would reheat and deliver to the CEO’s office the next day.

But when Fang Jin pushed open the door, he ran right into Gu Yuan, who was just coming out of the office on a phone call. They collided in the hallway.

Fang Jin froze. Gu Yuan shot him a cold glare before brushing past and striding toward the elevators.

Is he going out to eat?

After a moment’s hesitation, Fang Jin hurried to the window at the end of the company corridor. Through the glass, he could see the entrance of the high-rise office building. Gu Yuan strode down the steps, his back in a custom-tailored black suit exuding elegance. On the busy street nearby, a luxury Mercedes-Benz was parked at the curb, and a slender woman in sunglasses stood by the rear door, waiting for him.

Fang Jin recognized the woman. She was said to be a former arts school student whom Gu Yuan had kept as a mistress for a time. She had a pleasant personality and was strikingly beautiful. When Fang Jin used to drive Gu Yuan to their secret meetings, she had even treated him to bubble tea.

Fang Jin watched Gu Yuan’s figure walk straight toward the woman. After a long moment, he averted his gaze and let out a soft, self-mocking sigh.

Fang Jin carried the paper bag to the company break room, standing before the microwave uncertain about what to do with Gu Yuan’s lunch. He had prepared chili stir-fried beef, dry-fried green beans, pan-seared basa fish, and a box of rich, milky pork trotter soup. He couldn’t possibly eat two full meals, but throwing it away would be a waste. Should he save it for Gu Yuan to eat later that evening?

Forget it. Even if I had the guts, I wouldn’t dare ask Eldest Master Gu to eat leftovers that are a day old.

Then should he just randomly give the lunch to someone? As Fang Jin pondered who to give it to, a voice suddenly came from behind: “Assistant Fang? What are you doing? Going for lunch?”

Fang Jin turned around and recognized Xie Hengyi, the company’s newly appointed CTO.

The CTO had been at the company for less than two months, but he had already captured the hearts of everyone from the forty-eight-year-old female vice president to the eighteen-year-old interns. The company forum was constantly updated with fan-made posts featuring high-quality, candid photos of their “wuli” (beloved) male idol, manually pinned to the top. This popularity far surpassed that of the cold, strict, and unapproachable Eldest Master Gu.

The CTO leaned in to take a look, sniffed the air, and said, “Wow, your wife sure knows how to cook. Look at all these dishes! Ah, being in a relationship sure has its perks. I’m just grabbing a box lunch downstairs. See you later!”

Fang Jin’s heart skipped a beat. “Wait—hey, do you want this lunch?”

The CTO was startled. “For me?”

“I brought an extra portion today since I couldn’t finish it all. Just eat it and wash the box for me later.”

“Ah, that’s wonderful!” The CTO rubbed his hands and eagerly grabbed the box to heat it up.

Fang Jin finished heating his rice first and methodically washed his chopsticks and spoon under the faucet. He then carefully wrapped the bottom of the box with tissue paper to prevent oil from seeping out. The CTO, waiting for the microwave to finish heating his meal, casually chatted, “Does your girlfriend cook for you every day at home? Doesn’t she get tired of it?”

Single tech guys often assumed that bringing lunch meant you had a girlfriend. Fang Jin was about to say, “I made it myself,” but a sudden, inexplicable feeling stirred within him. He said instead, “It’s… not too bad. She doesn’t cook every day.”

“What a wonderful girl,” the CTO sighed. “Is she beautiful? Must be very virtuous, right?”

Fang Jin pictured Gu Yuan’s strikingly flawless face in his mind and smiled faintly. “Beautiful, yes.”

“And her personality is great, right?”

“Um… sometimes she gets a little moody.”

“That’s normal,” the CTO said, shaking his head with a wistful air, the seasoned veteran’s expression. “Back when I was dating…” He trailed off. “A woman who’s both beautiful and a good cook—of course she’ll throw tantrums and sulk. A man shouldn’t nitpick with a woman. You have to know when to yield. As long as life is tolerable, even if there’s a hint of green jealousy on your head…”

Fang Jin nodded with a smile. “Right, I’ll yield.”

The microwave beeped. The CTO eagerly pulled out the meal container and took a deep, appreciative sniff. “Wow—smells amazing!” He grabbed a communal spoon from the break room, didn’t even wash it, and scooped up a generous mouthful of tender stir-fried beef mixed with rice, shoving it in his mouth.

Fang Jin was about to say, “Take your time and don’t choke,” when footsteps approached the door. Gu Yuan suddenly appeared in the doorway.

Fang Jin turned and froze.

Gu Yuan was still on the phone, but his steps halted. He stood rigidly outside the door, his gaze fixed on the CTO. His naturally cold eyes now seemed to freeze over, his thin lips pressed into a tight line. A palpable tension gathered around him, like a storm brewing.

The CTO’s words sent rice grains clattering to the floor. “C-CEO?”

Gu Yuan stared expressionlessly at Fang Jin, then turned and strode back into his office, slamming the door shut with a resounding bang.

That lunchtime, Fang Jin found himself repeatedly considering whether to offer his meal to Gu Yuan. But before he could muster the courage to knock on the CEO’s office door, Gu Yuan stormed out again—this time to find his mistress.

Fang Jin knew Gu Yuan’s destination because he had ordered his mistress to drive his luxury car to the front of the company building. There, during the busiest lunch hour, the vehicle was parked ostentatiously, drawing stares from pedestrians as it flaunted its presence without a shred of restraint. Gu Yuan didn’t even care if it got a parking violation ticket.

Fang Jin ate his lunch with little appetite, his mind wandering throughout the afternoon. He was supposed to preside over a meeting in Gu Yuan’s absence, but midway through the Financial Manager’s presentation, his thoughts drifted. He stared silently at the tip of his Montblanc pen, his long, thick eyelashes unblinking, even failing to react when the manager finished and the room applauded.

The Financial Manager was left utterly bewildered.

Assistant Fang had been transferred from headquarters several months prior and had already established considerable authority within the company. It was widely known that his analyses and recommendations often influenced CEO Gu’s decision-making. Despite his reserved demeanor, he never missed the undercurrents of power struggles among the senior management.

Everyone wanted to stay on his good side. Even if they couldn’t count on his support in critical moments, they at least wanted to avoid being stabbed in the back, leaving them no place to cry about their losses.

After the meeting, the Financial Manager casually walked ahead of Fang Jin. As he opened the door, he suddenly turned back with a smile and said, “Looks like rain. My car’s in the shop right now. How am I supposed to get home tonight? Taxis will be hard to find.”

Fang Jin, momentarily caught off guard, replied casually, “I can give you a ride.”

The Financial Manager burst out laughing and waved his hand. “No need, no need! Aiya, no wonder everyone says Assistant Fang is such a good person—you always agree to help! I’ll just call my wife to pick me up!”

Fang Jin’s mind had wandered for a moment, but the keen intuition honed during his upbringing in the Gu Family Group’s headquarters kicked back in. He realized the man was merely testing his attitude. A faint smile played on his lips.

Ignoring the overly solicitous Financial Manager, Fang Jin nodded politely and walked out.

Gu Yuan hadn’t returned to the company all afternoon. It was astonishing that he could carve out an entire afternoon to spend with his mistress, given his usual grueling twelve-hour workdays.

Could he just be having dinner at his mistress’s place and working remotely? The moment the thought popped into Fang Jin’s mind, he shook his head in self-ridicule.

Human greed truly knows no bounds. When he couldn’t even catch a glimpse of Gu Yuan all day, he’d wished he could work alongside him. Later, when he became Gu Yuan’s assistant, he wished the Eldest Master Gu would be a little nicer. Now that Gu Yuan’s demeanor had visibly improved compared to his previous coldness, Fang Jin was actually hoping he’d ignore his mistress.

Who do I think I am? Am I seriously treating the Eldest Master Gu like my girlfriend?Fang Jin imagined Gu Yuan’s tall, muscular frame—185 centimeters of imposing presence—standing expressionless in a pink apron, opening the door and saying, “You’re back!” He couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurd mental image.

With nothing pressing on his plate that afternoon, Fang Jin decided to call the secretary and leave early. But as he reached the lobby of the headquarters, he suddenly noticed a strikingly familiar figure sitting on the reception sofa: Chi Qiu, the woman he’d seen at the Gu family residence. Her long hair cascaded over her black dress, her posture graceful, and she carried a Hermès crocodile leather handbag.

Chi Qiu covered her mouth with refined elegance, stifling a laugh as she stood before the CTO, Xie Hengyi, who was animatedly speaking with unbridled enthusiasm. This scene had played out almost daily since Xie Hengyi joined the company, each time adding another devoted young woman’s heart to his collection. Seeing this, Fang Jin felt a sudden headache coming on. He strode over and called out, “President Xie!”

“Hey, Assistant Fang!” The CTO turned around, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. “Oh, let me introduce you! This is Miss Chi, here to find someone at our company…”

Chi Qiu’s finely made-up eyes studied Fang Jin for a moment before a faint smile appeared. “Assistant Fang, we meet again.”

“Huh? You two know each other?” Before the CTO could react, Fang Jin nodded at Chi Qiu and immediately pulled him aside.

“Do you know who she is?”

“I do! She’s the goddess of my dreams!” The CTO’s face lit up with starry-eyed bliss. “The moment I saw her, I fell into my eighteenth lifelong love! Ah! In this vast sea of people, I chanced to glance at you, captivated by your luminous eyes and your crimson lips…”

“She’s Second Master Gu’s cousin, being considered as a potential girlfriend for CEO Gu,” Fang Jin said calmly, thinking to himself, You’re eating their food and trying to steal their future girlfriend? President Xie, you’d better check if that round object around your neck is still there.

The CTO jumped in surprise. “What did you say?”

Fang Jin shot him a cold, piercing glance with his clear, black eyes, raising an eyebrow slightly.

Stunned and speechless, the CTO stood frozen. Fang Jin walked past him, approaching Chi Qiu, who was elegantly leaning against the arm of the sofa. “Miss Chi,” he said politely.

“I have an appointment with CEO Gu at four o’clock,” Chi Qiu said, glancing at her Van Cleef & Arpels watch. “It’s already past four thirty.” She smiled. “He’s not answering his phone, and the front desk doesn’t know where he is. I was about to ask them to contact you. Should I head back today, or wait a little longer?”

Fang Jin paused, then replied smoothly, “My apologies. I’ll give him a call to remind him.”

Gu Yuan had stormed off earlier to see his mistress, likely forgetting about Chi Qiu—or perhaps deliberately ignoring her. After a moment’s hesitation, Fang Jin ultimately didn’t call. Instead, he sent a text message: “Mr. Gu, Miss Chi is waiting at the headquarters. Did you have an appointment with her at four o’clock?”

The reply came almost instantly, before Fang Jin could even put down his phone:

“Bring her over.”

Gu Yuan immediately shared an address. Fang Jin recognized it as his mistress’s home.

Five minutes later, Fang Jin started the car. He couldn’t imagine the storm brewing ahead, only hoping that his mistress wouldn’t come downstairs by the time he dropped off Chi Qiu.

Chi Qiu, sitting in the passenger seat, smiled and asked, “Are we going to CEO Gu’s home?”

“… It’s one of CEO Gu’s properties.”

Chi Qiu nodded, her tone pregnant with meaning. “One of his properties.”

Fang Jin marveled inwardly at how perceptive women could be. He sighed mentally, skillfully signaling and turning the wheel as the silver Lexus glided into the traffic like a fish into water.

Chi Qiu gazed quietly out the window, watching the skyscrapers and vehicles recede in a blur. She remained silent for a long time. Her style far surpassed that of art school girls and third-rate celebrities. Even sitting beside him, she was striking, her subtle, fragrant perfume lingering distinctly in the enclosed space.

As Fang Jin smoothly stopped at a red light, she suddenly turned to him. “Assistant Fang.”

“Please go ahead,” Fang Jin said.

“Can you guess what I was just looking at?” Chi Qiu asked with a smile.

Fang Jin frowned. “…A pedestrian?”

“No.”

“The street scene?”

“No.”

Fang Jin looked at her in confusion, but her expression remained unchanged. “I was watching you through the reflection,” she said softly.

Fang Jin was slightly taken aback.

“I was wondering how tolerant you are to put up with Gu Yuan’s occasional malicious pranks and his habit of taking out his frustrations on you whenever he’s in a bad mood,” Chi Qiu said, resting her beautiful hand on her cheek as she studied Fang Jin’s nearly flawless profile with keen interest. “Forgive my bluntness, but I would have resigned the day after that cocktail party. At the very least, I would have slapped him across the face and given him a thorough whipping until his face bloomed with welts.”

Fang Jin knew she had seen through his act with Gu Yuan in the garden that night. He said earnestly, “I’m sorry, Miss Chi. That wasn’t intentional… CEO Gu isn’t the way you imagine him to be.”

“Oh? What’s that like?”

Fang Jin instinctively wanted to defend CEO Gu, but the words caught in his throat.

He wanted to say, “CEO Gu is actually very good to me,” but what exactly did that mean? His first thought was the congee with century egg and pork he’d been served at the banquet, but that memory was quickly overwhelmed by the garden, the starlight, the staged kiss, and finally, Gu Yuan’s cold, disgusted gaze.

…Actually, Gu Yuan’s disgusted gaze is quite handsome, Fang Jin thought wryly, then said to Chi Qiu, “CEO Gu is generally good to his subordinates. Even though he sometimes loses his temper, he’s not the kind of boss who deliberately makes life difficult for his employees. The employee benefits are also excellent…”

Chi Qiu gave him a teasing look. “Is there a listening device in this car? Why does it feel like you’re brainwashing yourself?”

“Things aren’t always as you imagine them to be,” Fang Jin said, his tone turning slightly serious. “And Miss Chi, my temper isn’t as good as you think.”

Chi Qiu was taken aback. The light turned green. Without another word, Fang Jin pressed down on the accelerator.

Noticing Fang Jin’s lingering displeasure throughout the ride, Chi Qiu refrained from striking up a conversation. Twenty minutes later, the car slowly pulled up to the location Gu Yuan had shared—a luxury hotel-apartment district in the city center, renowned for its exorbitantly high land prices, even by G City standards.

Gu Yuan’s demanding work schedule left him little patience for his mistress. Their relationship was largely transactional, a mutually agreed-upon exchange of money for favors, with either party free to end it at any time if dissatisfied. Yet, he had one redeeming quality: he was generous with his spending, never skimping on what he owed her. He even delivered bonuses like clockwork during holidays, as if she were a valued employee. This, surprisingly, had earned him a decent reputation within the industry.

Fang Jin parked the car and texted Gu Yuan to confirm his arrival. Half a minute later, someone tapped on his window.

He looked up to see Gu Yuan standing by the door, his handsome face frosty with anger, his eyes blazing with barely contained fury. Behind him stood the art school student who had picked him up from the company earlier that day.

The moment Fang Jin unlocked the door, Gu Yuan flung it open, cutting off any chance for explanation. “What are you doing here?” he demanded, his voice thunderous.

“I…”

“I told you to ‘get her over here,’ which means giving her the address and letting her come by taxi, car, walking, or crawling! Not to chauffeur her around! You’re my assistant, and if you’re going to be a driver, it’s only for me! Do you let just any stray cat or dog hop into your car on the street?!”

Gu Yuan’s imposing figure loomed over Fang Jin, his sharp shadow nearly engulfing the driver’s seat. Behind him, his mistress flinched back half a step in fear.

On the other side, Chi Qiu leaned out from the passenger seat, watching the scene with keen interest. She glanced between the mistress and Fang Jin, then sighed leisurely:

“He treats you well.”

Before Fang Jin could stop him, Gu Yuan’s fury found another target.

He strode to the passenger side, flung the door open with one hand, and glared down at Chi Qiu like a king descending from the heavens. In that moment, the sheer force of his presence could have crushed the diminutive Chi Qiu into the earth’s core:

“Move to the back seat,” he said coldly. “The front passenger seat is mine.”