Work Text:
[Con Artist For Faces: So we all know that CEO Qin is happily married but we don’t know anything about his lover. Since there hasn’t been any new information about CEO Qin’s secret lover, I’ve decided to send out a poll here to see who they’re most likely to be!]
[Options: VP Chu, Secretary 154, Assistant Wen, Secretary Shu, etc. ]
[Poster Drama Addict: What a stupid poll. CEO Qin’s obviously a single dog. In all these years he only says he’s married but hasn’t said anything about his lover or shown them anywhere.]
[Con Artist For Faces: It’s obviously to protect them ah! If the world found out who someone as famous as CEO Qin is married to, won’t they stop at nothing to get information and gossip about them???]
[Poster Drama Addict: Then why are you making a poll like this to expose them? Do you even have a brain?]
[Today I Stan Jiang Cheng: drama addict, do you even have a conscience? if ceo qin is a dog, are you an earthworm?]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: Let’s first go over the clues we have: ]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: We know that CEO Qin’s spouse is cute, funny, and warm]
[Eating With My Life Savings: i definitely ship ceo qin with assistant wen. he always looks happier when assistant wen brings him food.]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: I disagree with life savings. ceo qin always laughs more when he’s with assistant 154. It’s like our ceo can’t stand how cute his assistant is~]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: I agree with goat. CEO Qin really seems to like teasing Assistant 154. He’s always poking fun at him, like with a lover’s playfulness!]
[Today I Stan Jiang Cheng: am I the only one who ships assistant 154 and assistant wen? just me? okay...]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: Oi Today, don’t come in here with stupid ideas. Those two can’t even look at each other without arguing.]
[Today I Stan Jiang Cheng: it’s like a lovers’ quarrel!]
[I Exist In Perpetuity: My friends, we’re missing the point here. Did you all forget CEO Qin? He’s a model straight man. Straight as a steel pole. Shouldn’t we ship him with VP Chu or Team Leader Shu instead?]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: aiya, who let this old man in. does gender matter when talking about love? tch. how outdated.]
[I Exist In Perpetuity: I just want to emphasize that we should remember that this is a public forum, and that people usually don’t appreciate being shipped with someone against their sexual preferences.]
[Eating With My Life Savings: then he can come here and argue himself ba!]
[I Have Pink Hair: what about CEO You?]
[The user ‘I Have Pink Hair’ has been removed from the forum.]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: eh? who dared bring up ceo you in this discussion forum???]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: hello, I’m new here and don’t really understand the problem. I thought CEO You and CEO Qin work together often? Can someone help out a poor newbie QAQ]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: ahhhhh a newbie~ basically, ceo you and ceo qin work together only because of company obligations, and even then it’s their employees that do the business. They just do the approving and executive management.]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: …….but why?]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: Aiya, Goat, you’re really bad at explaining. Dionysus, CEO You and CEO Qin are sworn enemies. Life enemies. The kind that would waddle out even in old age to dance on the other‘s grave.]
[Eating With My Life Savings: yeah! the only reason they work together is because System Jewelry Corporation specializes in jewelry and Raven Gem Enterprises is China’s number one gem seller.]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: That bad???]
[I Exist In Perpetuity: I work at Raven Gem Enterprises and I can confirm that our CEO doesn’t like working with CEO You at all. Whenever CEO You visits the company, CEO Qin gets into a horrible mood. One time we tried to call his personal line for an emergency and he actually cursed at us and told us to get lost!]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: but are you sure that’s because of CEO You?]
[I Exist In Perpetuity: what else could it be because of? They were discussing business in CEO Qin’s office when we called and CEO Qin sounded hoarse, like he’d been yelling for a while.]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: ahhhhhh, I see.]
[I Have Hot Pink Hair: Are you sure he wasn’t hoarse because of other reasons? ¬‿¬ ]
[The user ‘I Have Hot Pink Hair’ has been removed from the forum.]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: how did that crazy person come back here???]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: ah, forget it. anyway, it also doesn’t work because remember how ceo you said his lover’s a complete moron? ceo qin’s a genius! it can’t possibly be him!]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: Exactly.]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: Wait— why are the highest votes for VP Chu???]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: HUH??? Were we too busy talking here to check the poll???]
[I Exist In Perpetuity: ……….]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: ………]
[I Like Food: CEO Qin is an earthworm.]
Liu Hua sat in a meeting room at Raven Gem Enterprises, barely believing where she was. She was just an intern, but because her hands were the prettiest in the group in charge of this line of designs and so made the designs look best as an impromptu model, she had been chosen to come with their Team Leader to present to CEO Qin.
Sitting in front of CEO Qin, Liu Hua could barely concentrate on her Team Leader’s presentation. Her eyes kept straying from her laptop, where she was taking notes, to CEO Qin’s face. CEO Qin was famous for his godly good looks and excellent figure, and the number of fans who loved CEO Qin simply for his face was about the same as the number who loved him for his gemwork. Liu Hua, who was seeing him for the first time, felt like her face, painstakingly made up after 3 hours of effort, would unquestioningly lose to CEO Qin’s bare face.
During this meeting, CEO Qin was sitting Assistant Wen, listening carefully to Liu Hua’s Team Leader explain System Jewelry Corporation’s new design plan for a line of connected bracelets and rings. The idea was pretty good, but the representative was really bad at presenting. He’d go off on tangents frequently and each time Liu Hua could see CEO Qin getting more and more irritated. She even tried to nudge him back onto the right track, but he glared at her until she fell silent. Assistant Wen sent her a sympathetic glance.
CEO Qin started massaged his temples and when the Team Leader saw the action, he got nervous and started sweating and stuttering. Liu Hua was almost about to speak instead of him, but CEO Qin decided to put them out of their misery.
“Team Leader Han, this design looks good. We can start official discussions at your company’s convenience.”
The Team Leader sat up straighter and his eyes brightened at the success of his presentation. “CEO Qin, since we value your company so much, we’ve already checked the availability of our company’s top executives.”
CEO Qin raised an eyebrow. “That soon? Wen Yuan, open my calendar.” Liu Hua immediately sat straighter. Was it a mistake? Or a habit? WEN YUAN?!?!?!
[Eating With My Life Savings : FRIENDS!! GATHER ROUND!!!]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: Life savings, do you not have a job? It’s 10:30 am.]
[Eating With My Life Savings: this is my job!]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: gossiping?]
[Eating With My Life Savings: no!!! I’m at a meeting with ceo qin right now for a business proposal and he! Called! Assistant! Wen! By! His! Name!!!!!]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: eh?!!! They’re that close?]
[Eating With My Life Savings: who called me an idiot when I shipped them, huh? feel your face getting swollen yet?]
[I Exist In Perpetuity: No one called you an idiot………]
(in qinqin’s brain: There were only four people in the room and this was supposed to be an informal meeting, so I didn’t mind calling Wen Yuan by his name instead of his title. Poor me didn’t notice how the young Systems Jewelry Corporation assistant’s eyes lit up at that.)
By the time Liu Hua exited the chat, Assistant Wen had pulled up CEO Qin’s calendar and was already talking with the Team Leader.
The Team Leader scrolled on his computer and rattled off the names and available times of important executives at System Jewelry Corporation. CEO Qin listened for the first ten or so names, then held up a hand.
“Representative Han, please only tell me the names of those available before lunch. I have a busy schedule today.”
The Team Leader blinked, then typed furiously on his computer. “Of course, CEO Qin, of course………ah, here. Only our VP is free this morning. Uh…” the Team Leader tried to give a confident smile to block his bluffing. To tell the truth, CEO You was free that morning too. But the Team Leader had heard all about the legendary enmity between him and CEO Qin and decided it would be best to play peacemaker.
But to his surprise, CEO Qin frowned. “VP Chu? Is no one else available?”
Team Leader Han wiped the sweat off his forehead. “VP Chu is probably the best choice…I’m sorry CEO Qin, but I thought you liked VP Chu?” He looked up at the CEO nervously, hoping he hadn’t messed up and said something wrong.
CEO Qin leaned back in his chair and sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. As his hair was pulled away from his ears, Liu Hua’s sharp eyes noticed how they were slightly flushed.
“That’s the problem,” he muttered.
Liu Hua froze, feeling her world crumble. CEO Qin was blushing at the mere mention of VP Chu? Was he so far in love with her that the usually stoic man would so easily crack? She silently lowered her head and tapped away diligently.
[Eating With My Life Savings: ummm friends? I have some news…]
[I Exist In Perpetuity: yes?]
[Eating With My Life Savings: …….]
[Eating With My Life Savings: I just saw with my own eyes ceo qin blush when my team leader brought up vp chu’s name]
[I Exist In Perpetuity: ………………..]
[I Exist In Perpetuity: I’m not equipped to converse this subject with you at the moment. I wish you the best of luck]
[Eating With My Life Savings: died from a one shot kill.jpg]
(in qinqin’s brain: I do like Chu Yue. That's the problem. We get along really well so we end up talking about useless things and take five times longer to do any actual business. Above that…Chu Yue's a horrible tease. She never misses a chance to tease me about my relationship with Big Invigilator, and her questions are really shameless to the point where even I have no choice but to give in and blush. And I can't begrudge her, since she’s the one who’s supported our relationship from the very beginning — from when we were enemies, to liking each other, to dating, to getting engaged, and finally getting married, Chu Yue was there for it all. All in all, I can'y talk with her today. I have a date that afternoon with Big Invigilator and business can't drag on longer than lunch.)
Team Leader Han saw the CEO looking oddly uncomfortable and while he wasn’t as sharp as Liu Hua, he knew enough to change the topic quickly.
“Ah, then never mind ah. Maybe we can schedule for another day if—“
“No.” CEO Qin furrowed his brows. “That’ll push back our timeline. You’re already late, so we’ll have to start talks today.”
Liu Hua saw her Team Leader falter and wanted to help. She peeked at the calendar on his computer and saw another name: CEO You.
“Our CEO is free!” She blurted out. As soon as the words left her mouth, she wished she could take them back. Team Leader Han had an expression like someone just smacked him in the balls with a fish, not knowing how to react after this intern ruined his carefully-thought-out encounter-diversion plan.
CEO Qin immediately frowned. “What? Your CEO is at work? With no appointments?”
Liu Hua wrung her hands. It turned out the relationship between CEO Qin and CEO You was bad enough for CEO Qin to assume CEO You never came into work and was always lazing off even when he did come. “It’s not that!” She tried to explain. “He’s usually very busy, it’s just that today he made sure to have no appointments…”
CEO Qin pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fine. Tell your CEO You we can meet today. My office, 11 o’clock. That’s all.” Then, in true domineering boss fashion, he got up and swept out of the room, anger following him like a cloud. Assistant Wen quickly gathered up the CEO’s papers and computer and ran off after him after nodding a quick goodbye at the System Jewelry Corporation representatives.
Liu Hua could only stare after them. She slowly turned to her Team Leader, ready for a scolding, but he just sighed. “It’s not our business anymore now. Call Secretary Shu and tell her CEO Qin wants to meet with CEO You.”
Liu Hua nodded, hands shaking as she pulled her phone out and dialed CEO You’s secretary.
(in qinqin’s brain: Big Invigilator was up all night helping Old Yu move into his new place since Yu Wen's off at college. He didn't come back home until almost 5 in the morning and had barely slept before he was up and getting ready for work. I'd forcibly carried him back to bed and made him promise he’d rest, but it turns out he came to work even though he didn’t have any appointments. What was the point of coming and straining himself then?)
About ten minutes later, a classy car pulled up to the Raven Gem Enterprises entrance, a more lowkey car right behind them. Three people ran out of the second car and opened the classy car’s door, holding an umbrella above the open door to block the passenger from the sun. A tall man with pale skin dressed in a gray suit stepped out. He removed his sunglasses as he walked into the main building.
Shen Chaoyue worked as a receptionist at Raven Gem Enterprises. She got to meet lots of famous and interesting people who wanted to do business with their company, and she got to hear a lot of gossip too. Shen Chaoyue was also an ardent shipper who wanted her boss to find true love. After 5 years working with him, she had become an expert at shipping and CPs even though she was still single.
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: life savings, are you telling the truth? Even so, does ceo Qin like assistant Wen or vp chu???]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: eh? It seems that interesting things keep happening today? I just saw CEO You outside our building…]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: oh??]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: !!!]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: I just got a memo that there’s a sudden urgent meeting between him and CEO Qin!]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: he’s coming this way!!! Girls, I’ll update you later!]
[I Have Really Hot Pink Hair: hehe]
[The user ‘I Have Really Hot Pink Hair’ has been removed from the forum.]
Shen Chaoyue smiled warmly as CEO You and Secretary Shu walked into their main building. She quickly informed CEO Qin’s people that CEO You was here, then looked up to welcome CEO You.
CEO You was famous as the person who had delicate good looks but a personality and tongue that could spit fire. Accordingly, he had a face that could rival the world’s top models but was always scowling. Even then, he had fans who loved his bad boy demeanor, and they’d always hypothesize how sweet of a boyfriend he’d be under that coldness.
Secretary Shu frequently visited their company to draft agreements or meet with teams to discuss their progress, always reporting everything perfectly to CEO You. She was a sweet woman, and whenever she took over a meeting CEO You was supposed to come for, everyone involved would breathe a sigh of relief.
Shen Chaoyue smiled at the two visitors and said, “Welcome to Raven Gem Enterprises! How may I help you?”
CEO You leveled his gaze at her. “I have an appointment.”
Shen Chaoyue nodded and pretended to type something on her computer. This meeting was so sudden that it hadn’t been added in or scheduled anywhere, so she could only let the CEO pass and then tell the relevant teams to update CEO Qin’s schedule.
As CEO You walked past her to the elevators, Shen Chaoyue heard Secretary Shu whisper to him, “Boss, don’t be mad! I’m sure CEO Qin had his reasons!”
Shen Chaoyue diligently reported this to the discussion forum.
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: I’m back. Secretary Shu just told CEO You not to be mad at CEO Qin. He looks like he’s in a bad mood too…]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: maybe it’s because ceo qin called him over so suddenly but ceo you had other plans?]
[Today I Stan Jiang Cheng: I work as a clerk in ceo you’s office and this morning I overheard vp chu telling secretary shu to clear our ceo’s schedule after lunch because he’s going on a date with his lover]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: ?????]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: so he’s mad because he has to push back his date with his liver????? That’s so cute!!]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: *liver]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: *lover :((]
(in huohuo's brain: I was sleeping. Qin Jiu woke me up and made me come out.)
Wang Haoliang was a manager in CEO Qin’s office. He respected his boss to no end, especially because above all the work he did, he was always nice to his employees and never yelled at them even when they made mistakes. He hadn’t threatened to fire any of them or cut their pay even when the economy was in a downturn and almost all the other companies were laying off workers left and right. As such, he felt his boss deserved the best and would often go onto discussion forums to ensure his dignity and privacy were preserved.
That fateful day, he heard two sets of footsteps echoing through the hallway leading to the CEO’s office and looked up to see CEO Qin and Assistant Wen approaching. All the clerks in their office called out greetings to the two of them but CEO Qin blew past them like he didn’t even hear them. They all faltered, but Assistant Wen quickly assured them, “CEO Qin has to prepare for a meeting with CEO You in the next few minutes. Don’t worry!” Then he also ran off after his CEO.
CEO Qin went into his office and slammed the door behind him, and Assistant Wen took his seat beside Secretary 154. The two of them started discussing this and that in hushed whispers.
Soon after, another two sets of footsteps followed. The figures of CEO You and Secretary Shu hurrying behind him came into view. CEO You strode into CEO Qin’s office before
Wang Haoliang hesitated for a minute, then quickly typed something.
[I Exist In Perpetuity: CEO You’s coming up to our CEO’s office.]
[I Exist In Perpetuity: They both seem furious.]
He peeked at the CEO’s office and through the glass walls, could clearly see both men facing off against each other, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. They spoke a few hushed words to each other, and CEO Qin took a few steps forward like he was going to do something physical but then realized the entire office was watching. His face turned dark and he slammed a button on his desk which lowered his office’s blinds, making the happenings inside invisible from the outside. For a while, there was silence. Then…
THUD.
A loud noise came from the room, like one of the men had thrown the other against the wall. There was the sound of some scuffling, which then moved farther away.
Secretary 154 looked out at the CEO’s office, where all the workers were peeking and pretending not to. “Back to work, everyone.” The clerks all unwillingly sat back down, trying to finish their work quickly so they’d have an excuse to peek and gossip again.
[I Exist In Perpetuity: Red alert. They’ve started fighting.]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: ???]
[I Exist In Perpetuity: There was a loud thud.]
One of Wang Haoliang’s coworkers shakily raised her hand. “Uhh, should we call someone?”
Wang Haoliang got up and approached Secretary 154, only to see him bury his face and his hands and mutter, “Boss, please be more discreet.”
Wang Haoliang cleared his throat to get the secretaries’ attention. “Should we stop them? It sounds like things are getting physical.”
Secretary 154 gave him a confused look. “Why would you stop them? Are you trying to die?” Then without missing a beat, he smacked Assistant Wen upside the head. “The other column, idiot. The other column.”
Assistant Wen muttered a complaint and rubbed the spot where he’d been hit but still implemented Secretary 154’s corrections.
And so Wang Haoliang could only go back to his seat and go back to work.
Almost thirty minutes later, the CEO’s door creaked open. CEO You walked out, looking just as impeccable as he had when he walked in. The only sign that anything violent had happened inside was that his tie, usually perfectly pressed, was crumpled. CEO You nodded at Secretary Shu — “Let’s go.” — and made straight for the elevator. Secretary Shu gathered her materials, whispered quick goodbyes to Secretary 154 and Assistant Wen, then ran off after her CEO.
CEO Qin walked out after them, clearly in a better mood than earlier. He leaned against the doorframe and looked after CEO You with a satisfied smile. Wang Haoliang feared it was because their CEO had beat up CEO You so much the former was finally happy and the latter finally couldn’t bear to stay any longer.
Secretary 154 looked up. “Boss, did you get an agreement?”
CEO Qin blinked and turned to him. “Huh?”
Secretary 154 rolled his eyes, and the familiarity and casuality of his action somewhat shocked Wang Haoliang. “Should I handle it?”
CEO Qin then winked and shot finger guns at his secretary. “Yep.”
Assistant Wen interjected here: “Oh, Boss. I booked that restaurant for lunch and sent the details to you. I told them you were running late and would be arriving around 2 instead of 12:30. Have fun on your date.”
CEO Qin nodded. “Perfect. Have my stuff packed and sent to my place tonight.”
Assistant Wen nodded. “Done.”
[I Exist In Perpetuity: CEO Qin’s going on a date. Do with that what you will]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: Is this finally a clue to his lover???]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: do you know where it is?]
[I Exist In Perpetuity: …….]
[I Exist In Perpetuity: How would i know?]
[A Goat For My Husband’s House: :( ]
Half an hour later…
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: uh, guys? [img_32354.jpg] ]
[Today I Stan Jiang Cheng : IS THAT CEO QIN]
[Today I Stan Jiang Cheng: DID YOU FOLLOW THEM?]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: no, i work here]
[Today I Stan Jiang Cheng: HOW LUCKY]
[Today I Stan Jiang Cheng: GIRLS! COME COME COME!]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: I’M HERE]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: WHAT’S GOING ON]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: he’s waiting for someone]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: wait, his face changed]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: he’s smiling]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: !!!!!]
[Today I Stan Jiang Cheng: !!!!!]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: i see his lover!]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: sdindfbjsgfnsndh]
[Today I Stan Jiang Cheng: ?]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: IT’S CEO YOU]
[Today I Stan Jiang Cheng: dionysus, did you type wrong?]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: waiting online for you, dionysus]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: dionysus?]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: ah sorry, i had to serve someone]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: i wasn’t lying, ceo qin’s here with ceo you]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: they’re…uh….pretty close]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: ceo qin was holding ceo you’s hand and calling him darling and all that]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: …..]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: girls]
[Counting Down The Days To Meeting My Idol: we have to do something about this]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: ???]
[Today I Stan Jiang Cheng: counting-jie, you’re right]
[Today I Stan Jiang Cheng: ADULTERY CANNOT BE EXCUSED!!!]
[Dionysus’s Labyrinth: ???????]
That night, the internet broke. The discussion had continued in the forum, and its users had decided to formulate a good piece to release to the media instead of sending simple rumors. So at 9 pm the night of the adultery incident, multiple articles were released detailing how two of the most famous CEOs in China, CEO Qin of Raven Gem Enterprises and CEO You of System Jewelry Corporation, were engaged in extramarital affairs with each other. They even cited character evidences from the CEOs themselves. CEO Qin had mentioned that his lover was cute, kind, irresistible, warm, and more, which most certainly didn’t resemble CEO You. For his part, CEO You had offhandedly mentioned during a jewelry exposition that his lover was an idiot who couldn’t even spell his own name. CEO Qin was a genius who’d built a gem empire from scratch……calling him an idiot would be like saying every other person in the world had the IQ of a molerat.
With all this, rumors were swirling almost immediately, speculating why the CEOs would be cheating. Overnight, the situation calmed down a little bit, but this was only in that everyone clamored for the same thing — for the CEOs to explain themselves.
The next morning, everyone who was following the Weibo account @yh_system_official had their phone ping with a notification of a new post. It was a picture of a marriage certificate dated 5 years ago with two names clearly printed on it: Qin Jiu and You Huo. The photo had only one character as a caption: “.”
Around the same time, another ping came, this one from @qin_jiu_official. It was a picture of two hands intertwined, and it was clear that the owners of the hands were cuddling together under the sheets, holding their hands out for the camera to see. And for the straw that broke the camel’s back, two wedding rings were especially clear in the picture. This one was captioned “<3”.
And just like that, CEO Qin and CEO You broke the internet, twice.
~end scene~