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Chapter Text

Chen Pin Ming looked at the piece of paper in his hand then up at the lit sign of the stylish bar: After Hours. It looked expensive, but it was set outside of the high end district of Jianghu, so he was hopeful a drink wouldn’t eat most of his paycheck. 

The note he held had the name and address of the place, along with one single note: Friday, 7pm. It had been easier to find than he’d expected, though if Pin Ming were being honest, he may have partially hoped that he couldn’t find it. 

He did find it though, and he wasn’t going to leave without seeing if the one who gave him the note was actually here. 

With a deep breath, Pin Ming walked through the doors. Several faint odors greeted him, none of them unpleasant, but the mix was unfamiliar. He hadn’t been in a bar in years, not since college, and he’d forgotten the scent of people drinking together. Pin Ming was generally happy being a beta, and now he was especially glad he wouldn’t suffer any severe attacks from a mix of alpha pheromones. 

The bar was dimly lit and soft jazz played through hidden ceiling speakers. There was a low murmur of conversation, but it was quiet for a bar and allowed for comfortable conversation.  For there being so many scents, there weren’t that many people there. 

The bar was larger than it looked from the outside, but it was nice.  Pin Ming remembered feeling uncomfortable at nightspots, but this one was non-threatening. 

He checked his watch to see it was about 5 minutes past 7, and he looked around the bar for the face that was familiar in his work life. 

The day Chang Yu slipped Pin Ming the paper with the address of the bar on it had been stressful and hectic. Pin Ming’s boss was having a very intense and strange rut, but because he was stubborn, he’d refused to stay in, choosing instead to attend a public and important function. While Pin Ming understood why he wanted to attend, he wished Mr. Sheng would actually listen to him once in awhile. 

The day ended with Mr. Sheng being insulted, Pin Ming feeling embarrassed for his boss (and himself), and the person they were there to meet in the first place having never showed up. By the time they left, Pin Ming just wanted to get Mr. Sheng home where his current omega could take care of him while Pin Ming went home to have a shower and a drink. 

Because of the angry way Chang Yu had spoke to Mr. Sheng that day, Pin Ming would never have expected the man to approach him while he was waiting for Mr. Sheng’s driver to arrive and slip a piece of paper into his hand. 

“Apologies for today,” the man had said in a low voice, his serious expression never changing. Then he was gone, leaving Pin Ming to stare after him before looking at the note he’d been given. A place, an address, a day, and a time. 

Pin MIng quickly put the note in his pocket, not wanting Mr. Sheng to see. Not that he was trying to lie to his boss, but questions would be asked, and Pin Ming had no idea how to answer them when he wasn’t even sure why he’d been given the note in the first place. 

For the next few days, Pin Ming carried it around, wondering if he should throw it away and ignore it or see what it was about. He did a web search, so he knew it referenced a bar, but unless he actually went, he’d never know what Secretary Chang was up to. 

If anything, maybe he could get some sort of information on Chang Yu’s boss for Mr. Sheng, since that was who he’d been trying to meet with. At the very least, having a drink with someone else in the industry might be a novelty he had yet to experience in all his years of working as Sheng Shaoyou’s secretary. 

Finally, in the dim light, his eyes fell on Secretary Chang sitting at the bar, a glass of light brown liquid in his hands. He still wore his work suit, though Pin Ming could see that he’d loosened his tie. As he walked towards the bar, Pin Ming did the same. 

“Secretary Chang?” he said cautiously as he approached.. Chang Yu turned his head, his eyes meeting Pin Ming’s, and he smiled welcomingly. Pin Ming was surprised at how friendly he looked with a smile. Nothing like the serious man who was always showing up places in lieu of his reclusive boss. 

“Secretary Chen,” Chang Yu greeted, pulling the chair next to him out to indicate that Pin Ming should sit down. “You found the place.”

“It wasn’t too difficult,” Pin Ming said, taking the seat. Though he didn’t feel anxious by his surroundings, Chang Yu made him a bit nervous, partially because of who he worked for, but also because he was a higher level Alpha and well known as one of the most competent secretaries in business circles. Pin Ming wasn’t one to be intimidated, but Chang Yu was clearly above him in many ways. . 

“What would you like to drink?” Chang Yu asked. “First round is on me.”

“How many rounds do you usually have?” Feeling warm, Pin Ming removed his jacket and hung it over the back of his chair. 

Chang Yu shrugged. “Depends on the week I’ve had. Tonight feels like at least a three-round night.” He smiled and shrugged. “But we’ll see what happens.”

Pin Ming nodded. “I don’t drink much. I’ll just have what you’re having.” 

Chang Yu motioned to the bartender, tipping his glass to indicate what he wanted. “Two more.” The bartender nodded and set to filling two glasses, giving Pin Ming a chance to look around the bar a bit more. The shelves were well stocked with quality liquor. Mr. Sheng would probably like his place, but Pin Ming wasn’t going to tell him about it. His boss wasn’t feeling much like recreational drinking these days anyway. 

The bartender handed them the drinks, and Chang Yu raised his to toast with Pin Ming. Pin Ming returned the gesture, clinking his glass with Secretary Chang’s before sipping the warm, slightly sweet liquid. It burned as it went down, but Pin Ming immediately relaxed as the warmth spread through his chest and stomach. Normally if he drank, he drank wine, but this was a pleasant change. 

“Secretary Chang,” Pin Ming finally said, “why did you invite me here?”

“First, how about we drop the formalities for tonight? If you’re not comfortable calling me by name, Mr. Chang is fine.”

Pin Ming swallowed. “Okay, Mr. Chang. I hope you’ll do the same.”

“I plan to, Chen Pin Ming.” Chang Yu glanced at him as if to gauge his reaction to having his name used casually, but Pin Ming really didn’t mind. In fact, it sounded kind of nice when Mr. Chang said it. “As for the invite, I figured you might want to let off some steam after working for Sheng Shaoyou. Am I right?”

Pin Ming was cautious about what he said out loud, as if saying anything negative about his boss would come back to haunt him. “Mr. Sheng isn’t all that bad,” he said. “Some days are stressful, but it can be rewarding too.”

Chang Yu chuckled. “This isn’t a job interview. You really don’t have to sugarcoat it.”

“I’m not. It really isn’t that bad.”

“So working for an S-Class Alpha with high demands who runs a multi-billion dollar company doesn’t cause you any stress?”

“Well,” Pin Ming tried to find the right words. “It does, but-”

“Pin Ming, I didn’t invite you here to be polite. If you really don’t want to complain, then just drink and enjoy the atmosphere.” 

Pin Ming felt like he’d done something wrong. 

“Mr. Chang, did I upset you?”

“Not really. I was just hoping you’d feel comfortable enough to not put on a fake front. Then again, we don’t really know each other that well, so I can’t really blame you.” 

Pin Ming stared at Chang Yu as the other man looked down at his drink. “I’m not entirely sure what you want me to say or why you want me to say it,” he said, honestly. “If our bosses weren’t in the same sector, it would be easier. But if I say the wrong thing…”

“It’s okay, I understand.” Chang Yu drained his glass, and for a second, Pin Ming thought he was going to leave. Instead, he motioned to the bartender for another drink. “Would it help if I started? If I said how I feel about my boss right now?”

“If you need to get something off your chest and you’re comfortable doing so, then I don’t mind listening.” As an afterthought, he added, “Whatever you say will stay with me. I won’t say anything to Mr. Sheng.”

For some reason, that made Chang Yu laugh. “You know, even if you did, it really wouldn’t matter.”

Pin Ming assumed Chang Yu was insinuating that Mr. Sheng was insignificant to both him and his boss at X Holdings. Though it might have made Pin Ming feel protective, instead it eased his mind. If he and Sheng Shaoyou were that unimportant, maybe it wouldn’t matter what Pin Ming said. 

“Then feel free to talk to me,” he said. 

Chang Yu didn’t say anything for a few long moments, and Pin Ming wondered if he’d changed his mind. Finally though, Chang Yu shifted so that he was facing Pin Ming, one elbow laying casually on the bar. 

“Do you know how hard it is dealing with an absolute maniac every single day?”

Pin Ming was surprised. “Is your boss that bad?”

“Yes. And no. But he’s driving me nuts right now.”

“What’s he doing? Is he just demanding?”

“He’s demanding. He’s selfish. He doesn’t care what anyone around him thinks or who he hurts. He has a one-track mind and sees nothing except…getting what he wants.”

Pin Ming hadn’t expected Chang Yu to get so animated. Every time he’d encountered him at a meeting or function, he’d always spoke highly of the man he was representing, even seeming to admire him. “I’m surprised. I mean, Mr. Sheng can be frustrating too, but I always assumed you had a good relationship with your boss. You always seem to speak very well of him.”

“Because he’s actually brilliant,” Chang Yu said. “He’s the smartest man I know, he’s just…a little sociopathic.”

“Are you in danger?” Pin Ming asked, which made Chang Yu laugh. 

“No, I’m not in danger. We have a mutual trust, and I do admire him. That doesn’t mean I can’t be pissed off at him sometimes, does it?”

“Well….no,” Pin Ming agreed. “I admire Mr. Sheng, but he drives me nuts a lot of the time.”

“Does he refuse to listen to you?”

“Most of the time. He thinks he knows best and gets mad when I suggest he take better care of himself.”

Chang Yu raised his glass and knocked it against Pin Ming’s. “They act like we don’t know what we’re talking about, like we don’t see them every day, up close and personal.”

“Exactly.” Pin Ming suddenly had the urge to spill every frustration he’d been having with Sheng Shaoyou. He didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the fact that Chang Yu was so honest, but he found himself relaxing and talking more than he’d planned to. “Like the other day. I told him to stay home. I told him that he had no business going out when he was having such a strong rut period. But he wouldn’t listen!”

Chang Yu shook his head. “They never listen. I’ve had to warn mine a few times to take better care of how he handles his, but no one can tell him anything. Do you know how many times I’ve had to help him out of a situation because he won’t be more cautious?”

“It’s infuriating,” Pin Ming agreed. “You must work for a high-level alpha too. Is he an S-Class like Mr. Sheng?”

Chang Yu paused a second, as if he had to think about it. “Well, he’s definitely not an omega.”

Pin Ming laughed. “I don’t know if any omega could ever be that stubborn. Alphas are the worst.” The minute the words were out, Pin Ming slammed his hand over his mouth. “I mean, not all alphas. Not you, Mr. Chang. I didn’t mean you.”

Chang Yu just laughed and put his hand on Pin Ming’s knee. “No, you're right, Pin Ming. Alphas are pains in the asses. I’m probably not an exception.”

Pin Ming suddenly realized that Chang Yu was a bit drunk. His face was flushed, but instead of making him look messy, it made him look more handsome. Pin Ming liked the way he laughed, and even though he wasn’t sensitive to pheromones, he found he enjoyed the scent emanating from Chang Yu. 

He also liked the way this particular alpha’s hand felt on his knee. 

Maybe I’m also a little drunk, thought Pin Ming, his face feeling flushed. 

“I don’t think you’re a pain in the ass, Mr. Chang. I think you’re very good at your job and a nice person.”

Chang Yu leaned forward, his eyes unfocused and his lids lowered as he looked directly at Pin Ming. “I’m not a nice person though. I do a lot of really shady things for my boss.”

“But isn’t that part of your job?”

Pin Ming thought he felt Chang Yu squeeze his knee slightly, and for a second he thought the man was going to kiss him with the way he was leaning towards him, his eyes roaming over Pin Ming’s face. 

“It is part of my job,” Chang Yu admitted. “But I’m hoping that once my boss’ current…project…is finished, I won’t have to be like this anymore.” He seemed to realize how close he was to Pin Ming and pulled away, leaving Pin Ming feeling a little disappointed. “Do you want another drink?”

“Um, maybe? This one feels like it’s hitting harder than I expected.” 

Chang Yu ordered two more drinks, one for each of them. Pin Ming didn’t argue. One more drink wouldn’t hurt. He liked feeling relaxed and letting his guard down for once. Chang Yu had used the term “Letting off steam,” and that’s exactly what it felt like. 

They continued to talk and drink, ignoring that they were getting more inebriated while throwing caution that anything they might say would get back to their bosses. Pin Ming would later worry that the alcohol made him brave, but he felt like he could tell Chang Yu anything and his secrets would be kept. Pin Ming felt like he actually had someone who knew how he felt. 

They both finally realized it was probably time to call it a night when the bartender started dimming the lights and the other patrons trickled out. 

“It’s really late,” Chang Yu said, looking at his watch. “I suppose we should go home.” 

Pin Ming was still able to sit upright, but he was definitely drunk, even though he was sure he hadn’t had as much to drink as Chang Yu, who didn’t seem nearly as drunk. “I don’t think I’ve ever stayed out this late,” Pin Ming said. 

“Never?”

Pin Ming shook his head. “I didn’t have many friends in college, and after I graduated I started working for ShengFang. That’s all I do really. Work and go home.”

Chang Yu reached up and brushed the hair off Pin Ming’s forehead. Pin Ming swallowed, reacting again to Chang Yu’s scent like he was an omega about to go into heat. “Now you’ll have to join me here more often,” Chang Yu said, smiling. 

“Can I?” Pin Ming asked. 

“I hope you do,” Yu said sincerely. “I’m here every Friday, and if you wanted to join me every Friday, I would be very happy.”

Pin Ming’s heart skipped a beat. “I’ll do my best then.” He stood up from the barstool, stumbling when his feet hit the floor. Before he could grab onto the bar chair for balance, Chang Yu had wrapped his arms around him to hold him in place. 

Pin Ming put his hands on the alpha’s shoulders and pressed against him, unable to resist leaning in and inhaling the scent coming off his neck. 

“Let me help you outside to get a cab,” Chang Yu said gently. “Are you going to be okay to go home by yourself?”

Pin Ming looked up at him, glassy eyed. “If I’m not, are you going to help me get there?”

Chang Yu smiled. “If you ask me to, I will.” 

His heart skipped again, and drunk or not, Pin Ming realized he was dangerously close to doing just that. “I think I’ll be okay. But thank you for the offer.” 

“Maybe next time then.”

Pin Ming didn’t know how to respond, but he didn’t have much time to think before Chang Yu was leading him out into the night air. 

It was cool and breezy and gave Pin Ming a chance to clear his alcohol muddled mind before his ride showed up. He inhaled, still smelling Chang Yu, but his scent was now mixed with the smell of incoming rain. There would likely be a storm overnight. 

“Can I have your number?” Chang Yu asked. 

“My number? For work?”

“Not for work. Just because I might want to text you.”

Pin Ming blushed, but unlocked his phone to exchange numbers. “Sure. You can text me anytime. My phone isn’t a company phone, it’s mine, so text whatever you want.”

“Whatever I want?”

“Within reason.” Pin Ming blamed his own drunken state for the fact that everything Chang Yu said sounded suggestive. 

“I’ll remember that.”

The rideshare pulled up a few minutes later and Chang Yu helped Pin Ming into the backseat and gave the driver his address. 

How does he know my address? Pin Ming thought but figured he may have given it to him before he called the ride for him. 

“I’ll buy the next round,” Pin Ming said, smiling. 

“I’ll look forward to it,” Chang Yu said. He touched Pin Ming’s cheek gently and so fleetingly that Pin Ming thought he imagined it. “Good night, Mr. Chen.”

“Keep calling me ‘Pin Ming’. I like it.”

“Good night, Pin Ming.” He shut the door, leaving Pin Ming alone in the back of the rideshare as the car pulled away to take him back to his apartment. 

He leaned his head against the window and smiled, realizing that he was looking forward to seeing Chang Yu again, and it didn’t matter if it was at work or at After Hours. He just wanted to see his face again soon.

Chapter Text

Chang Yu was 99.9% certain Chen Pin Ming wasn’t going to show up the next Friday night, and he didn’t blame him at all. Still, he’d been looking forward to seeing him, but thanks to Hua Yong’s plans, he’d had to do something he really hated, and now he was sure Chen Pin Ming would never talk to him again. 

He’d arrived at After Hours earlier than his normal time because he needed a drink to escape from that week’s mess. Chang Yu never thought things would get this insane, but he should have known better. He’d never agreed out loud with Shen Wenlang when he called the boss a lunatic, but now he knew just how crazy that man was. 

Maybe he’d known it all along, but this was the first time it had caused Chang Yu to hurt someone he liked. 

Chang Yu stared at his phone, wondering if he should text Pin Ming with an apology. He’d sent a text before the meeting warning him that things might get heated. He hated that he couldn’t give him more details, but he hoped Pin Ming would consider that he’d warned him and not hold it against him. 

As much as he wanted to, though, Chang Yu couldn’t bring himself to text. How could he explain everything through a message? 

Chang Yu thought about the day he’d slipped the note to Pin Ming and how much he’d gone back and forth about doing it. He’d wanted to ask him out for awhile, but there was never a good time. Plus, Chen Pin Ming was the epitome of professionalism and loyalty, and asking to spend time with him could be construed as a way to get more information on Sheng Shaoyou. 

But that day he’d seen Pin MIng’s face after he’d yelled about Sheng’s pheromones (another part of his boss’ setup). The embarrassment and frustration stabbed at Chang Yu, and he wanted to find some way to comfort the poor secretary. So he wrote the address of his after work safe place and slipped it to Pin Ming, allowing him to choose whether or not to join him. 

Chang Yu had been so happy to see him, and having someone to vent to about work was something he’d always wanted. Work had been his whole life. In order to make sure he was there for his boss, who was crazy but also generous when it came to his employees, Chang Yu had settled into his loneliness. He was lucky that he didn’t experience strong ruts like other Alphas, and if he did, he could easily find an Omega willing to help him out. But it never went beyond the physical needs. He couldn’t afford to let anyone else into his life. 

Chen Pin Ming was different. He knew the world Chang Yu lived in since he lived in it too, and he’d be able to understand demands that no one else would. Chang Yu had instantly felt a connection to him, though he knew it was likely one-sided. But Pin Ming had accepted his invitation to drink with him, and it was the best evening Chang Yu had ever had. 

Now sitting at the bar, drinking his normal honey whiskey, he felt a mix of guilt, anger, and sadness. Guilt that he hadn’t tried to explain things better to Pin Ming, anger at Hua Yong for making messes that others had to clean up, and sad because he doubted Pin Ming would even look at him again, much less meet him outside of work. 

Chang Yu was wondering if maybe he should call it an early night and go home when someone took the bar chair next to him. He looked over to see Pin Ming settling in and loosening his tie. 

“What are you doing here?” Chang Yu blurted out.

Pin Ming stopped halfway through taking off his jacket. “Should I leave?” He slowly started putting his jacket back on, but Yu grabbed it and tugged it off of him. 

“No! Don’t leave.” He couldn’t believe Pin Ming had shown up, and he was having a hard time  trying not to show his happiness and relief. “What do you want to drink?”

Pin Ming looked at the selection behind the bar and then down at Chang Yu’s glass. “Whatever you’re having.”

Chang Yu didn’t have to tell the bartender. The man already heard and was pouring a glass for Pin Ming. 

Once they each had a drink in hand, Chang Yu went to clink glasses, but hesitated. Did he have any right to show such a sign of camaraderie after pulling a gun on Pin Ming. 

To his surprise, Pin Ming took the initiative and tapped his glass to Chang Yu’s. “We survived another rough week.” They both drank. “Some of us even survived being held at gunpoint.” He looked pointedly at Chang Yu as he said this.

Chang Yu blushed with embarrassment. “I tried to warn you that things could get difficult.”

“I didn’t think you meant you’d have to threaten to shoot me.” 

“I’m sorry.” Yu grabbed Pin Ming’s wrist. “I wanted to text you and explain, but…I didn’t know what to say.”

Pin Ming stared at him. 

“Please don’t be mad at me.” Chang Yu pleaded. 

Unexpectedly, Pin Ming smiled at him. “I’m not mad.”

“You’re not?”

“Well, not anymore. I was a little upset when it happened, but I get it. If the rumors are true, then your boss is harder to deal with than mine. And I imagine if Mr. Sheng demanded I use firearms to ensure his safety, I probably wouldn’t be able to say no.”

Chang Yu breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you for understanding. Still, I really wish I hadn’t had to scare you like that.”

“Honestly, I was a little surprised, but…” Pin Ming paused. “I didn’t think you’d actually hurt me. Plus, you treated us well afterwards. I feel like I should apologize for Mr. Sheng, but he’s dealing with pheromone disorder, and I know he felt just as bad.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” Chang Yu said. “It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t Mr. Sheng’s fault either.” 

“I appreciate you saying that. Things have been strange lately.”

“Strange?” 

Pin Ming leaned back and loosened his tie a bit more. Chang Yu noticed color in his neck and cheeks. The liquor was already hitting him, Chang Yu would make sure to pull back on his own drinking so he could watch out for him. 

Pin Ming nodded. “Mr. Chang, has your boss ever been in a relationship?”

How was he supposed to answer that? “Well…not exactly.”

“Or maybe I should ask if he’s ever been in love?”

That was easier. “Yes,” Chang Yu said without hesitation. 

“Then I may need your advice. Because Mr. Sheng never has. He’s had a lot of lovers but nothing long term, and they were just bed partners.”

“Oh really?”

“Seriously. It was easy to deal with most of the time. But I think…” Pin Ming trailed off. 

“You think?”

“I think he’s fallen in love with his new Omega.”

I hope that’s true, Chang Yu thought. Out loud, he said “Is this Omega different from his previous ones?”

“Yes and no,” Pin Ming said slowly as if thinking of how to explain. Chang Yu wanted to tell him he already understood, but he had to be careful. “Mr. Hua is definitely Mr. Sheng’s type, almost perfectly. He’s absolutely everything Mr. Sheng likes in his lovers. But…there’s also something different about him.”

Chang Yu sipped his drink. “Different how?”

“He’s just…well, okay. He’s an Omega, right? But I’ve gotten the feeling a few times that he holds more power over Mr. Sheng than the other way around.” Pin Ming shook his head. “That’s silly, right?”

“Is there any particular reason you think that?”

“Not really. It’s just a feeling. Maybe it’s because I’ve never seen Mr. Sheng so obsessed with someone. That person would have to have some kind of power to make him like that.”

Chang Yu chuckled. “He does seem like a serious guy.”

“He’s had to be. His family is awful.” Pin Ming drained his glass and gestured to the bartender for another. “But you know what? There is something I noticed about Mr. Hua that I’ve never seen in any other Omega Mr. Sheng has dated.”

Chang Yu leaned forward. “Really? What’s that?” he asked with genuine interest. 

Pin Ming leaned in as if sharing a secret. “I’ve never known any of Mr. Sheng’s past relationships to be possessive. They’ve all understood that they’re disposable. But I don’t think Hua Yong feels that way. There’s something in the way he acts that says he thinks Mr. Sheng belongs to him.” 

“I see.”

“That’s weird, right?” Pin Ming sat up as the bartender handed him another drink. “Have you ever seen an Omega show ownership over an S-Class alpha?”

“I can honestly say I have never seen that in an Omega.”

“You should really meet Hua Yong then. I’d be interested in your take on him.”

Chang Yu downed the liquor in his glass. “Maybe I should, but it doesn’t sound like your Mr. Sheng would allow it.”

Pin Ming laughed. “Probably not. He’s already upset that Mr. Hua still seems to have some sort of connection to someone else.” 

Chang Yu wished he didn’t have to lie to Pin Ming, but he was careful not to say anything that would make him suspicious. Someday in the future Pin Ming would find out, but Yu hoped they might be close enough by then that Chen Pin Ming would be forgiving. 

“Make it a double this time,” Chang Yu told the bartender. To Pin MIng, he said, “If this Mr. Hua is so possessive of Mr. Sheng though, he probably doesn’t have anything going with Shen Wenlang.” 

Pin Ming looked surprised. “How did you know I was talking about Shen Wenlang? Are you sure you haven’t met Hua Yong?”

“I haven’t,” Chang Yu said quickly. “I thought I’d heard somewhere that an Omega had left Shen Wenlang for Sheng Shaoyou. You know how business gossip goes.”

“That’s true. Word travels fast.” Pin Ming was getting more talkative the more he drank. “But enough about my boss and his love life. You said your boss has been in love? So he’s married?”

“No.”

“Long term lover?”

“N-no.”

“Unrequited love?”

“For most of the time, yes.”

Pin Ming looked suspicious. “I don’t know what that means.”

Chang Yu laughed. “It’s sort of an unconventional…situationship.”

Pin Ming tilted his head. “Is it because Mr. X really is awful and ugly?”

The drink he took caught in Chang Yu’s throat, making him cough. “Mr. X?”

“That’s what Mr. Sheng calls him since he’s the owner of X Holdings.” 

“Mr. Sheng calls him Mr. X, huh?” 

“Yes.” Pin Ming grinned. “Do you want to tell me your boss’ real name?” 

Chang Yu shook his head. “Even if I did, I signed a confidentiality agreement.”

“I get it.” Pin Ming sighed. “Mr. X sounds like a super villain name. But okay, what’s his story? How long has he been in unrequited love? With who? Is he really as unattractive as everyone says?”

Chang Yu burst out laughing. “You’re getting really chatty, Pin Ming. Do you need to stop drinking?”

“No, I’m fine. I’m just…curious.”

Yu nodded, choosing his words carefully. “He’s been in love with the same person since he was a kid. That person is hard to get close to, so that’s why it’s been unrequited. But they were able to connect recently, and it sounds like this person may return his feelings now.”

Pin Ming put his hand on his chest dramatically. “That’s so sweet! I love a good romance.”

“I didn’t take you for a romantic, Secretary Chen.”

“Hey, I can enjoy the thought of true love, even if I am forever single.”

“So you don’t have a partner?”

“No, it’s just me. I don’t know when I’d even have time for a relationship.” Chang Yu noticed that his eyes had taken on that soft look of the slightly drunk. “What about you, Secretary Chang? Do you have a partner?”

“I’m married to my work, I think.”

“That’s a shame,” Pin Ming said thoughtfully. 

“Why?”

Pin Ming leaned slowly into him, and Yu thought his smile looked a little flirty. “Because you’re very good looking and you’re very competent.” 

Chang Yu had never experienced what the novels and dramas called a heart flutter before, and he wasn’t prepared for it. “You think I’m good looking?”

“And competent,” Pin Ming repeated. “I think you’d be the perfect partner.”

Before he could stop himself, Chang Yu reached up and placed his hand on the side of Pin Ming’s face, cupping his cheek gently. “Then do you want to date me, Pin Ming?”

“Huh?” Pin Ming blinked. “Me date you?”

Chang Yu ran his thumb along Pin Ming’s jawline. “Do you not want to?”

“I…wait, what are we talking about?” Pin Ming was drunk, but not drunk enough that Chang Yu’s question didn’t catch him off guard. 

“I’m asking if you want to date me. If I’m good looking and competent, would that be enough?”

Pin Ming was speechless. Chang Yu could see his mind working as he tried to process this. When he opened his mouth, it was simply to weakly say, “How did we get here? I just wanted to know if Mr. X was ugly?”

Chang Yu smiled and brought his face closer to Pin Ming’s. “Actually, he’s not. My boss is beautiful.”

“Oh.” Pin Ming swallowed. 

“But Mr. Chen,” Yu said softly, “You are more my type.” Though he knew he should ask first, Chang Yu couldn’t help himself, and he brushed his lips against Pin Ming’s in a light kiss. Though soft, it was enough to taste the honeyed liquor that they’d both been drinking. 

When he pulled away, Pin Ming stared down at Chang Yu’s lips, looking dazed. “Mr. Chang?”

“Yes?”

“You’re drunk, right?” 

Chang wasn’t drunk at all, but he was suddenly worried that he’d come on too strong. “I may have had a little too much to drink.”

Pin Ming sighed and pulled away with a soft laugh. “I thought so. Is this your drunk habit?”

“Flirting?”

“Asking people to date you?”

“Maybe.”

Pin Ming reached up and patted Yu’s head, a gesture that might have seemed condescending if it were anyone else, but it only endeared Chang Yu to Pin Ming even more. 

Pin Ming raised his glass. “Here’s to drunk habits and the dramatic love lives of our bosses.” 

Chang Yu had no choice other than to toast with Pin Ming and act like he didn’t just get rejected. But it was okay. He still had Pin Ming as a drinking buddy and maybe a friend, and if that was all they were going to be, then Chang Yu would be okay with that. 

As long as he still got to spend time with him and see him once in a while, Chang Yu wouldn’t be greedy. He definitely wasn’t like his boss in that regard.

Chapter Text

The next time Chen Pin Ming went out for a drink, he happened to meet Chang Yu at the door. The other secretary looked handsome as usual, well-dressed but already loosening his tie in anticipation of relaxing with a few drinks. 

Pin Ming, on the other hand, felt like he’d been beat to hell over the past several days. He’d contemplated just going home, but a drink sounded good and seeing Secretary Chang sounded better. 

Chang Yu greeted him. “You made it!” He smiled, but his smile faltered when he saw Pin Ming’s worn out expression. “Are you okay?” He placed a hand on Pin Ming’s shoulder. 

“I’m okay.” He paused. “Actually, I’m not. It’s been a really bad week.” Pin Ming sounded defeated. “Maybe I should go home. I don’t want to put any of this on you.”

“Hey,” Chang Yu grabbed Pin Ming’s wrist and pulled him towards him. Pin Ming looked up to see that the other secretary’s eyes were filled with concern. “Tell me what’s wrong. I want to help you if I can, even if it’s just by listening.” 

“Are you sure?” Pin Ming swallowed. He didn’t have friends, so being able to confide in someone was a new experience. 

“Positive. Let’s go get a drink and you can tell me what happened.” Chang Yu didn’t let go of Pin Ming’s hand. Instead he pulled him into the bar and to their regular seats. 

They were removing their jackets when the bartender placed their drinks in front of them, already anticipating what they were going to ask for. Chang Yu smiled and nodded his thanks. 

Pin Ming was already taking a long sip of liquor, hoping that the alcohol would do its job quickly and take the edge off, at least for a short time.

“I don’t want to push you,” Chang Yu said, “But you can tell me whatever you want. Or if you decide you don’t want to talk, we can just sit and drink.”

Pin Ming smiled gratefully. He really was lucky to have met Chang Yu. “I’m not even sure where to start.”

“Is it something to do with work?”

“Not work itself. But there are things happening with Mr. Sheng that are having to be dealt with.”

“Oh?” 

Pin Ming sighed. “Mr. Chang, can you promise that everything I tell you stays between us?”

Chang Yu nodded. “I promise.”

“I just don’t want your boss learning of any of this and holding it against Mr. Sheng.”

“I don’t think he’d do that, but I won’t say anything.” Chang Yu touched Pin Ming’s shoulder comfortingly. “I’m good at keeping secrets.”

Pin Ming nodded and took another drink before starting. “I told you before that I’d never seen Sheng Shaoyou in love, right? Well, I’ve never seen him heartbroken either. Not until now.”

“What happened?”

Deciding to trust Chang Yu, Pin Ming began telling him about how he’d never seen Mr. Sheng cry until the day his omega left him. It had unsettled Pin Ming to see such a strong alpha reduced to sobbing and pleading. It seemed vulgar to see such emotion from any alpha one wasn’t intimate with, and it was worse when that person was your boss. 

Pin Ming had seen him stressed, angry, and upset at times, but that morning he’d read the letter from Hua Yong was the first time he’d ever seen Sheng broken. 

“I know it’s not my heartbreak,” Pin Ming said sadly. “But he’s my boss, and for better or worse, I’ve looked up to him. I’ve always seen him as one of the strongest people I know. When he broke down like that, there was nothing I could do.” He rubbed his tired eyes. “I felt so bad for him, but I also felt like a failure because I couldn’t do anything to help him.”

Chang Yu shifted closer and patted Pin Ming’s shoulder comfortingly. “Does he know why Hu- his omega left?”

Pin Ming nodded. “He does, and I think that makes it worse. He blames himself because he failed to make the right decisions.”

“Decisions?”

“It’s a long story. His dad is sick and he needed a drug, and - “ Pin Ming waved his hand tiredly. “It’s complicated.”

“I understand.” Chang Yu tapped his glass on the bar to get the bartender’s attention for another round since they’d both finished theirs during Pin Ming’s story. “But didn’t you say that omega seemed very possessive of Mr. Sheng?”

“He did, which is why I was surprised he left. I guess I thought he’d find a different way to help Mr. Sheng.”

“He might come back though, right? Maybe he’ll regret his decision, or maybe he’s trying to find another way they can be together.”

Pin Ming shrugged. “I wish I had your optimism, Mr. Chang. It just feels hopeless to me right now.”

Chang Yu reached up and lightly brushed the hair off Pin Ming’s forehead, his fingertips lingering there longer than he needed to. Pin Ming was surprised, but also comforted by the gesture. “You look tired, Pin Ming. I’m guessing you haven’t been sleeping well because of all this?”

“I’ve barely gotten any sleep since it happened. Mr. Sheng hasn’t even taken any of his emotions out on me. To everyone else, he seems like the same person. But I know. I can see the hurt in him.” 

Chang Yu stayed quiet, letting Pin Ming process his emotions. 

“Also,” Pin Ming finally said after some hesitation, “something else happened to Mr. Sheng before Hua Yong left.”

“Something else?”

Pin Ming nodded. “Promise me again you won’t tell anyone this? Actually, I’m not sure if I should even talk about it.”

“Only tell me what you’re comfortable telling me,” Chang Yu said, softly. “I have no expectations. I’m here to listen to whatever you want to say.”

“It’s just…” Pin Ming swallowed. “Someone attacked Mr. Sheng the night before.”

“Attacked?”

“He tried to fight back, but whoever it was somehow overpowered him.” Pin Ming remembered how much pain his boss had been in. “I honestly have no idea how anyone could go up against him and get the upper hand like that.”

“He’s a very strong Alpha,” Chang Yu agreed. 

“One of the strongest. Shen Wenlang is also an S-Class Alpha and he can barely hold his own against Mr. Sheng when they fight. Which has been pretty often lately.” Pin Ming sighed. “I actually considered that Mr. Shen might be the attacker for a minute, but that didn’t make any sense.”

“It definitely wasn’t Shen Wenlang.”

Pin Ming blinked. “How can you be so sure?”

Chang Yu waved a hand dismissively. “I’m acquainted with Mr. Shen. I don’t think he would ever do that to anyone.”

Pin Ming didn’t remember telling Chang Yu the details, but he figured the man was making a general statement based on what he knew of Shen Wenlang. Besides, he was starting to feel the alcohol, so who knows what he’d said as he rambled on. 

“Even if he would, I don’t think he could. But apparently there’s another alpha out there who’s stronger than Mr. Sheng who apparently prefers alphas to omegas. I don’t know. I’m confused.”

“That is very strange.”

“I’m worried whoever it is will come after Mr. Sheng again. What if it wasn’t just a coincidence? What if they’re targeting Mr. Sheng?”

“Pin Ming,” Chang Yu said calmly. “I have a feeling that whoever it is won’t come after Mr. Sheng with the intention of hurting him like that again.”

“You really think so?”

“I do. Right now, the important thing is to be there for him and to support him while he’s dealing with everything.”

Pin Ming nodded. “You’re right. Do you think I’m too protective of him?”

“Not at all.” Chang Yu put his arm on the back of Pin Ming’s chair, a gesture that felt even more intimate than the other times he’d touched him throughout the evening. “We’ve worked for our bosses for a long time, and we both know that there’s a fine line between love and loyalty. I think you care for Mr. Sheng as much as I care for my boss. We want to see them happy. Even if it’s partially because we want our lives to be easier, we still genuinely want the best for them. Right?”

Pin Ming nodded, calmed by the fact that Chang Yu understood him so well. “You’re right.” Pin Ming smiled. He really did feel better from having told Chang Yu the story. “You probably don’t have to deal with anything this emotional with your boss, though. Didn’t you say he seemed to be pretty happy with his current romance?”

Chang Yu exhaled slowly. “Well…he has his challenges too. Trust me. I have my fair share of ups and downs with ‘Mr. X’.” He grinned, making Pin Ming laugh at the reference. 

Yu lifted his glass to a toast. “This is to being sure that Mr. Sheng’s lover will return to him and do everything he can to make him happy for the rest of his life.”

Pin Ming toasted. “How are you so confident about things like this?”

Yu shrugged. “I just have a feeling.”

“I hope you’re right.” Pin Ming leaned over and placed his forehead on Yu’s shoulder. In return, Yu stroked the back of his head lightly. “Thank you, Mr. Chang. Thank you for listening to me and giving me hope.”

“I told you I wanted to help you any way I could,” Chang Yu said softly, his lips close to Pin Ming’s ear. “Thank you for letting me be close to you, Chen Pin Ming.”

Pin Ming sighed softly. “If there’s any way I can repay the favor, let me know.” He figured the alcohol was helping, but he liked believing that things would work out, that he didn’t need to have any worries. He also liked being this close to Chang Yu. The man was warm and had a sensual scent. Pin Ming didn’t often notice the scent of alpha’s unless they were giving off a lot of pheremones, but now he could pick up Yu’s scent the minute they were in the same vicinity. 

“Anything?”

Pin Ming raised his head from Yu’s shoulder, but stayed close, leaning into him. “Anything.”

“Have dinner with me.”

“Dinner? That’s it?”

“Dinner, as in a real date. Spend an evening with me.”

Pin Ming tilted his head. “Is this your drunk habit again?”

Chang Yu closed the gap between them without warning and kissed Pin Ming’s mouth gently, lingering there for a second before pulling back enough to say, “I don’t actually have a drunk habit, Pin Ming. I really want to go out with you.”

Pin Ming stared at him, feeling his breath quicken. Between the kiss and the confession, he felt slightly confused, as if maybe he’d imagined both of those things. “Say that again?”

“Have dinner with me,” Yu said. “Date me.” 

“Instead of drinks?”

“As well as drinks. I want more time with you.”

“How much more?”

“As much as I can get.” Chang Yu kissed him again, harder this time, his lips caressing Pin Ming’s tentatively and sweetly, as if taking more would cause Pin Ming to run. 

When he pulled away, Pin Ming felt the loss, but he was in such a daze, he had no idea what to say. “I think - I think I’d like to have dinner with you, Secretary Chang.”

Chang Yu smiled. “Do you think you could call me by my name then?”

“Maybe? I’ll give it a try.” 

Later, as they were standing outside waiting for their rides, Chang Yu kissed Pin MIng again, holding him close, and Pin Ming considered inviting him to come home with him. But that would be too much, right? Chang Yu had just said dinner. Pin Ming didn’t want this beautiful alpha to think he was asking too much of him.  

“I’ll text you then with a date and time,” Chang Yu said, running his thumb along Pin Ming’s jawline. “You’ll answer, right?”

“I will,” Pin Ming promised. 

His ride pulled up then, and Chang Yu gave him one last kiss before putting him into the car and closing the door. Pin Ming waved, hoping that Chang Yu really would text him and that they really would go out for dinner. 

Pin Ming felt elated, but also nervous. He told himself that there was nothing wrong with trying to have a relationship of his own for once. He thought that maybe taking a chance on Chang Yu would be worth the risk. 

Before he fell asleep, Pin Ming thought again that he was indeed happy with his decision to trust Secretary Chang. 

Chapter Text

The bartender at After Hours knew right away that something was wrong the next time his two regulars showed up. 

The fairer one, the one who had only started coming a short while ago, showed up first. He didn’t take off his jacket or loosen his tie, and his eyes looked tired and red. When the bartender went to pour him his regular glass, the man stopped him. 

“Not that tonight,” he said, his voice tinged with exhaustion. “Something else. Anything else.”

The bartender nodded and chose a high end vodka instead. 

In seconds, the man downed the liquor and asked for another one. The bartender was a little alarmed, but then relieved when the man only sipped the second drink. 

When the other patron arrived, the darker one who’d been coming longer, his drinking partner didn’t bother looking up, just stared at his vodka. The bartender noticed that the second man also looked tired, but sad as well, as if he’d had his heart torn apart. He sat down slowly and cautiously, as if he were afraid the wrong move would send the other man running. 

“The usual?” the bartender asked. He rarely had to say anything, but considering one wanted something different, maybe the other did too. 

“No,” the sad man said. “Scotch tonight.”

The bartender nodded and poured the drink. Neither of the two men said a word, nor did they look at each other. Whatever had happened since the last time they’d been there had done something to cause a rift. It made the bartender sad. He’d enjoyed watching them and seeing how happy they were together. 

Even without knowing what happened, it was obvious they weren’t comfortable with each other anymore. 

With a soft sigh, the bartender went to the other end of the bar to polish glasses at the far station. He wanted to give them some space, though he’d be sure to keep an eye on their glasses from afar.

—

“So.” Pin Ming was the first to say anything, but he still refused to turn his head to look at Chang Yu. 

“So.” Chang Yu hurt more than he thought he ever could. He’d known that this day would come, that he would eventually have to tell Pin Ming the truth the same way Hua Yong would have to eventually tell Shaoyou. The difference was that Chang Yu didn’t choose to lie. He’d had to by necessity of his job and his employer. He had hoped Pin Ming would understand that, but since the earthquake, the man refused to answer his calls or his texts, and when they did see each other, he refused to meet Chang Yu’s eyes. 

“Is there anything else you’ve been lying about?” Pin Ming asked, his voice calm and steady and very cold. 

“Pin Ming…”

“Secretary Chen,” Pin Ming corrected. “Don’t address me as if we’re close.”

Chang Yu’s heart dropped. “We are close. This doesn’t change anything.”

Pin Ming slammed his hand down on the bar. “How does it not change anything? Are you serious?”

“I didn’t want to lie to you! It was part of my job.”

“Was it also part of your job for me to tell you all those things about Mr. Sheng? Did you take them back to your boss…no, to Hua Yong…so he could also continue to lie?”

“I never told him anything you told me, Pin - Secretary Chen. I promise. Everything he knew about Sheng Shaoyou he knew a long time ago.”

“So he was stalking him?”

“No. Yes. It’s….yes he followed him and lied to him, but he had his reasons.”

Finally Pin Ming turned his head to look at Chang Yu in disbelief. “That doesn’t make it any better. I don’t care what his reasons were, how could either of you do that?”

“Was I supposed to tell my boss I couldn’t help him win the man he’d loved for 15 years?”

“That wasn’t ‘winning’ him. That was manipulating him and torturing him. While you and Hua Yong were scheming and lying, Mr. Sheng was making himself sick with worry and stress over that psycho.”

“I know.”

“Do you?” Pin Ming was very obviously doing everything he could to keep himself under control. “Then do you want to try justifying how the fuck making someone sick by messing with their pheromones and then assaulting them is love?”

“I know it was wrong,” Chang Yu pleaded. “Mr. Hua knows it was wrong too. He’s suffering for what he did and is paying for his lies, but he didn’t know how else to get close to Mr. Sheng.”

“Maybe he was never meant to get close to him,” Pin Ming said hatefully. “Maybe they never should have met.”

Chang Yu buried his face in his hands tiredly. He knew he’d messed up, but the hatred and anger coming from Pin Ming was more than he could stand. 

Everything had happened so fast: the earthquake, the surgery, and Hua Yong doing everything he could to get Sheng Shaoyou to forgive him. At first, Chang Yu didn’t even think about how Pin Ming would react. Things had been going well. They’d had dinner together twice besides meeting for drinks. Every time they were together, Chang Yu found himself falling more in love, and even with everything he was doing for Hua Yong, he’d never felt happier. 

But while Mr. Sheng would at least acknowledge Hua Yong, even if it was with hate and anger, Pin Ming refused to look at Chang Yu, much less talk to him. 

Now that they were sitting together in the place where they’d gotten close, he was allowing the whole of his fury to show. Chang Yu didn’t know which one was worse. 

“If they hadn’t met, then we might not have either,” Chang Yu said painfully. 

“We shouldn’t have met either then,” Pin Ming said. “I never should have trusted you.”

“Why?” Chang Yu asked desperately. “I never hurt you. What happened between them has nothing to do with us.”

Pin Min shook his head. “I don’t know how you can say that.”

“Then tell me. Tell me what it has to do with us. Why do we have to suffer because of them?”

Pin Ming stared him, his eyes wet with unshed tears. Even in his anger, Chang Yu could see how much he hurt. 

“You asked me to spend time with you knowing what Hua Yong was doing. You let me tell you things I never should have told you. And the whole time, you lied and pretended that you knew nothing.” Tears slowly rolled down Pin Ming’s cheeks. Chang Yu didn’t dare wipe them away. 

“Was it funny?” Pin Ming continued. “Was it funny listening to me talk about what was happening like an idiot? Like a complete moron who never noticed my boss was the victim of a scam?”

“I never laughed at you. I never thought you were stupid.”

“No? Even if so, you still made me realize how incompetent I am as Mr. Sheng’s secretary because I couldn’t do anything to help him. I was too stupid to see what was going on, and I was stupid enough to trust anything you said.”

“Pin Ming, please,” Chang Yu begged. He knew he was losing him, and he felt desperate. “Please believe me. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Pin Ming emptied his glass and got up from the chair. Chang Yu grabbed his arm. “Don’t leave.” Pin Ming yanked his arm away. 

“You were the first person I’d ever trusted like that,” Pin Ming said, his voice cracking. “You were the first friend I had and the first one I’d ever fallen for.” He covered his eyes with one hand, on the verge of sobbing out loud. “I’m such a fucking idiot.”

“You’re not. It’s my fault,” Chang Yu pleaded. “Please let me make it up to you. Let me prove how much I love you.”

“Are you sure you even know what love is, Chang Yu?” Pin Ming sniffled. “Considering that you seemed to think what your boss did to Mr. Sheng was about love, I don’t know if you’re the best judge.”

Yu made one last attempt to keep him by grabbing his wrist, but again, Pin Ming jerked away. “Let’s be done here,” he said. “Let’s go back to being two people who happen to see each other at business functions. But this time, let’s not try to be polite. In fact, if I have to see you, don’t talk to me. Pretend I’m nobody to you. Pretend like we never knew each other.” With that, Pin Ming turned and stormed out of the bar. 

Chang Yu stood there feeling empty, feeling like his whole world had just collapsed. Slowly he turned back to the bar and sat down, the fight and his own desperation making him feel somewhere between numb and completely torn to pieces. He stared at his drink. Part of him wanted to get so drunk he blacked out and forgot everything for awhile. Another part of him wanted to stay sober enough to consider how he was going to win Pin Ming back. If he had a good plan, he could do it, he could make him forgive him and love him again. 

You sound just like Hua Yong, a small voice in the back of his head told him. Even though it filled him with shame, he couldn’t deny that there was hope in the idea. Pin Ming already thought he was a liar. If he lied to try to get him back, what would be the difference?

In the end, he knew he couldn’t do it. He loved Pin Ming too much to deceive him any further. If he never wanted to talk to him again, then that was the least Chang Yu could do for him. If he had to hurt, so be it. At least he’d gotten to be with him for a short time. He could make do with that for awhile. 

It didn’t seem as if he had any other choice. 

Chapter Text

Chen Pin Ming slumped against the bar, his third drink close to being drained, his eyes sleepy but his heart aching. He was alone for the third Friday in a row. Chang Yu had apparently stopped coming to the bar, just as he wouldn’t answer of any Pin Ming’s texts asking to talk to him, asking if they could meet. 

All Pin Ming wanted to do was apologize, but it looked like he wasn’t going to be given the chance. He knew he only had himself to blame. After all, when Chang Yu had tried to reach out to him, he’d done the exact same thing, ignoring him completely. 

Even after Mr. Sheng fell into domestic bliss, Pin Ming had no intentions of forgiving Chang Yu. He’d been hurt more than he ever thought possible, and he held onto his anger like a security blanket. The longer he stayed angry, the longer he was sure he wouldn’t trust anyone, much less attempt to trust Secretary Chang again. 

But anger was exhausting, especially when part of the reason was now living as if he’d never been angry with the person who hurt him over and over in the name of love.  No, Mr. Sheng had embraced the domestic bliss of being someone’s partner, having forgiven Hua Yong for everything. 

While he still didn’t trust Hua Yong, Pin Ming’s anger slowly subsided, and he grudgingly started being happy for his boss again. And as his grudge faded, his longing for Chang Yu started. 

Even though he believes he’d been right to be angry, he still felt guilty that he’d treated him so poorly and pushed him away so harshly. He remembered how Chang Yu had begged, but Pin Ming had been unkind, having no intentions of ever reconciling with him. 

He decided to apologize and see if he could make amends. But Chang Yu wouldn’t answer his texts or his calls. Pn Ming suspected that he’d blocked his number after he himself ignored all of Chang Yu’s attempts to reach out. 

Pin MIng knew he was getting what he deserved, but he wanted to clear things up. Even if Chang Yu didn’t forgive him, he at least wanted the chance to tell him to his face how sorry he was. 

He’d started going back to After Hours again, assuming that Chang Yu was still showing up, but there was no sign of him. He came every Friday only to sit at the bar by himself for a short time, having a couple of drinks before heading home, dejected. 

Pin Ming had even asked Sheng Shaoyou if he knew what Chang Yu had been doing since Hua Yong was spending his time at home rather than running his company, but Mr. Sheng didn’t know. “Do you want me to ask Hua Yong?” he’d asked, but Pin Ming acted like it was no big deal. 

“I was just curious,” he’d said casually. “I hadn’t seen him in awhile.”

Mr. Sheng simply nodded and went back to reviewing documents. 

At some point, Chen Pin Ming started being unable to sleep because he was so frustrated and desperate. He managed somehow to still function at work, but each day was getting more difficult, and he’d had to see his doctor to get a prescription for sleeping pills. 

Now as he sat at the bar, he was exhausted and felt even more drunk then he might have felt otherwise because of his lack of sleep. He didn’t really care though. His heart ached, and he felt lonely and ashamed as he kept glancing at the empty bar chair next to him. 

“Sir,” Pin Ming asked the bartender when he came to remove his empty glasses, “the man I was here with before. Does he show up on a different day?”

The bartender shook his head. “No, sorry. I haven’t seen him since the last time you both were here.”

Pin Ming blushed, remembering the scene, embarrassed that others had witnessed it. “Thanks,” he said, tipping his glass to gesture for another drink. What did it matter how drunk he got? Maybe if he passed out, he’d at least feel like he slept for once. The other nights he’d been at the bar he’d held himself back, but tonight he was too depressed to stop. 

Halfway through his fourth drink, his eyes got heavy and his vision blurred. Pin Ming didn’t want to stop though. He wanted to finish his drink. Once he’d drained his glass, he’d call a cab and go home. 

However, he didn’t even take another drink before the world went black and his head hit the bar. Pin Ming had passed out. 

The bartender raised an eyebrow, a bit concerned. The man looked exhausted. He probably should have been at home sleeping instead of drinking. But the bartender felt sorry for him. The fight he and his partner had gotten into last time obviously had lasting effects. 

He really couldn’t have anyone sleeping on the bar though. With a sigh, he went over and gently tapped on his arm. “Sir, can I call you a cab?”

Pin MIng didn’t wake up. 

“Sir?” The bartender spoke a little louder and shook him a little harder, but still nothing. This wasn’t the first time he’d had to call for a drunk person, but this seemed like more than just a drunken pass out at the bar. 

The man’s cell phone sat next to him. The bartender picked it up to find the screen was still unlocked. He touched the phone icon and called the first number he saw in recent calls. 

No answer. 

The bartender tried again and still no answer. He had a sneaking suspicion who the number belonged to considering the history showed a lot of calls to the same number. Since the person wasn’t picking up, he obviously didn’t want to talk to his former friend. 

However, the bartender wasn’t deterred. He pulled out his own cell phone and dialed the number. 

After two rings, the person on the other side picked up. “Hello?”

“Good evening, sir. I’m the bartender here at After Hours.”

There was a moment of silence, then “Is something wrong?”

“I think so. There’s a man passed out on the bar, and I think he’s your friend. Yours was the last number he tried to call.”

Silence again, so the bartender continued. “I can’t get him to wake up.”

“I’ll be right there.”

“Should I call an ambulance?”

“Not if he’s still breathing. I’ll be there in a few minutes. Please watch him until I get there and I’ll take care of him.”

“Will do, sir.”

“Thank you.”

The bartender smiled softly. He really didn’t think anything was wrong with the man, but he didn’t think there was anything wrong in creating a sense of urgency. 

He placed the passed out man’s phone back and took his half empty glass away, then proceeded to continue wiping glasses while he waited. 

–

Chang Yu sped to After Hours, ignoring the speed limit signs, deciding that the cops could chase him and if he got a fine, he’d make Hua Yong pay for it. Considering the good mood his boss had been in, he was sure it wouldn’t be a problem. 

He’d ignored all of Pin Ming's phone calls and texts, but he couldn’t ignore the bartender telling him that Pin Ming wouldn’t wake up. Chang Yu’s heart dropped in panic. Was Pin Ming drinking himself into a coma?

Feeling worried and guilty, Chang Yu arrived at After Hours in record time, Parking on the curb, he ran inside and through the bar, ignoring the other patrons looking at him curiously. 

Chen Pin Ming was indeed passed out on the bar, one arm above his head, the other falling loosely at his side. His head was turned to the side, so Chang Yu could see his pale face and the dark circles under his eyes. 

“Thank you,” Chang Yu said to the bartender with a nod. Though frantic, he was gentle when he placed his hand on Pin Ming’s shoulder. “Chen Pin Ming, wake up.” He kept his voice even as he spoke into the other secretary’s ear. Pin Ming didn’t answer. 

Chang Yu placed his hand under Pin Ming’s cheek and raised his head slightly. “Come on, Pin Ming. Wake up. I’m here to take you home.” Still there was no response and panic welled up in Chang Yu. 

He wrapped his arms around Pin Ming to sit him upright, and as he did, he heard something fall out of Pin Ming’s pocket and hit the floor. Chang Yu looked down to see a prescription bottle laying on the floor. He leaned Pin Ming against the bar again so he could pick it up. 

The worry that had been simmering was now a full blown panic. The bottle was a prescription for sleeping pills. Had Pin Ming taken these and then drank alcohol? Had he overdosed?

No longer gentle, Chang Yu pulled Pin Ming into his arms and grabbed his face. “Pin Ming, wake up. Wake up!” He patted his cheek hard, trying to get him to wake up. He knew Pin Ming was a beta, but on the off chance he had any sensitivity to Chang Yu’s pheromones, the worried alpha tried using them to wake Pin Ming out of unconsciousness. 

Chang Yu felt like he was about to cry. “Pin Ming, please wake up. I’m sorry I didn’t answer. Please, please wake up.” He slapped him harder one time on the check and then hugged him closely and tightly to him. He could still feel him breathing, still felt a pulse, but what if he’d done something to damage his brain….what if…

“Chang Yu?” Pin Ming’s voice was slurred and sleepy. “What are you doing?”

Chang Yu pulled away enough to look at Pin Ming’s face. His eyes were heavy, his lips wet, a small bit of drool pooled at one corner of his mouth. He was sloppy and drunk, and Chang Yu thought he was beautiful. 

“Pin Ming,” he said, still worried. “Did you take sleeping pills?” He held the bottle up close to Pin Ming’s unfocused eyes. “Did you take these and drink?”

Pin Ming didn’t say anything as he focused on what Chang Yu was holding. “What do you mean?”

Chang Yu threw the pills on the bar and cupped Pin Ming’s face in his hands. “Are you trying to hurt yourself? Why would you do this? Nothing is worth killing yourself for.” He pressed his forehead against Pin Ming’s. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“Chang Yu,” Pin Ming said, trying to sound coherent. “I’m okay. I didn’t take anything.”

“Then why did you pass out? Why do you have sleeping pills?”

Pin Ming let his head fall on Chang Yu’s shoulder. “I haven’t been able to sleep. I just wanted to sleep, but I didn’t take them before drinking.”

Chang Yu calmed a bit, though he was still worried about the alcohol levels in Pin Ming’s system. “Then why wouldn’t you wake up? How much did you drink?”

Pin Ming wrapped his arms around Chang Yu’s waist clumsily. “I just fell asleep. I’m okay.” He sighed. “Why are you here? Did you know I was here?”

“I came to get you,” Chang Yu said, holding him close.

“But you hate me,” Pin MIng said heavily. 

Chang Yu gently pushed him off his shoulder so he could hold his face in his hands and look at him directly. “I don’t hate you, Pin Ming.”

“But you wouldn’t talk to me.” Pin Ming’s voice caught as if he were going to cry. “I wanted to tell you I was sorry, but you wouldn’t talk to me.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I should have answered.” Then Chang Yu hugged him tight, burying his face in Pin Ming’s neck. He released his pheromones again, this time ones meant to calm and soothe. He felt Pin Ming inhale. 

“You smell so good,” Pin Ming said. Chang Yu laughed softly. At least he was enjoying them, even if he wasn’t affected. 

“Why don’t you sit down and drink some water before I take you home,” Chang Yu said gently, nudging Pin Ming into the chair. The bartender heard him and quickly filled two glasses with tap water. 

Pin Ming slumped into his chair, reluctant to be parted from the warmth of Chang Yu’s body and the light haze of pheromones there. Pen Ming wasn’t sensitive to alpha pheromones generally, but he thought maybe he reacted to Chang Yu’s because of how he felt about him. 

“Here.” Chang Yu pushed the glass of water towards Pin Ming’s lips. “Sip it slowly, or you’ll throw up.”

Pin MIng nodded and did as he was told. 

They sat there for a while longer, Chang Yu having pulled his chair close, his arm around Pin Ming, helping him finish the glass of water. Pin Ming slowly sobered up, still tired and exhausted, but happier for the first time in weeks now that he could see and touch Chang Yu. 

“Chang Yu,” he finally said, hesitantly. “I wanted to see you because I needed to tell you-”

Chang Yu interrupted him to shush him. “We don’t have to talk about it right now,” he said gently. “Wait until you're sober and feeling better.”

“No,” Pin Ming said. “Because if you disappear again, I’ll never get to say it.”

Chang Yu didn’t say anything. Would he disappear again? Now that he was with Pin Ming again, all the hurt he’d felt from that night seemed to disappear. But what if Pin Ming was still mad and wasn’t showing it because he was drunk?”

“Do you want me to disappear?” Chang Yu asked softly. 

Pin Ming raised his eyes to his. “No. That’s why I wanted to tell you I was sorry.” His eyes became wet, and Chang Yu thought he really might cry. “I was mad and hurt, and I think…I think I had the right to be mad and hurt. But I handled it poorly. I hurt you, and I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Chang Yu said, brushing Pin Ming’s hair away from his forehead. 

“It’s not though,” Pin Ming argued. “I missed you so much, but I’ve also felt horrible for what I said.”

“You were right, though,” Chang Yu said. “I should have told you the truth.”

“You couldn’t though, and I get that now. And now Mr. Sheng and Mr. Hua are happy, and all I can think is that if I had just waited, if I had just tried to understand you, you wouldn’t hate me so much.”

“I never hated you.”

Pin Ming sniffed. “Really?”

“Really. I just didn’t know what to say. I’d stopped trying to contact you, and then I realized I did it when things started going well for those two, and I realized it probably looked like I really was using you.” Chang Yu leaned and nuzzled Pin Ming’s ear. “I never used you though. I wanted to spend time with you. I still do.”

Pin Ming gave him a shaky smile. “So we can go back to how we were before?”

Chang Yu sighed. “I don’t think so.”

Pin Ming turned his head to look at Chang Yu, his face stricken. “I understand,” he said sadly. 

Chang Yu tilted his chin up. “I mean we can’t go back to just being drinking buddies. I don’t want to just drink with you once a week and have dinner with you here and there. I want to date you.”

Pin Ming blinked slowly. “Weren’t we dating?”

“No, we were getting to know each other.”

“But you kissed me.”

“Yeah, but those were ‘getting to know you’ kisses.”

Chen Pin Ming shook his head. “So what’s going to be different now?”

“Now you’re going to be my boyfriend.”

“That’s more than dating,” Pin MIng said. 

“That’s what I want.” Chang Yu placed a kiss on Pin MIng’s forehead. “I’ve liked you for a long time, even before we had that first drink. But I was never planning to be greedy. Now, though…”

“Now?”

“Now, I want what I want. And if you say no, I’m pretty sure my boss will help me get what I want.”

“You’d really be that evil?” Pin Ming said, but he wasn’t mad at all. 

“Maybe. I probably wouldn’t do anything illegal, but I’d still make sure that you were mine when it was all over.”

“You don’t need to go to those extremes.” Pin Ming leaned forward and kissed Chang Yu firmly on the mouth. “You can just have me.”

When they finally left the bar, Chang Yu went to Pin Ming’s apartment with him and stayed the night. It was the first time in weeks that Chen Pin Ming slept soundly.

Chapter Text

“To being honorary uncles!” Chang Yu lifted his glass and Pin Ming joined him in a toast as they sat at After Hours many weeks later. 

They’d continued to come to the bar every Friday, though it was no longer to see each other once a week. Now it was one of their standing date nights and a chance to get out of their apartment. Most of the week was too busy for them to do anything besides come home, make dinner, and cuddle on the couch until they were ready to fall asleep. 

But Fridays they came to After Hours to talk about work, to still complain, but also to celebrate their bosses who had just welcomed a son to the family. Already little Hua Sheng was adored by his dads, his godfather, and his two “uncles.” 

The pregnancy had been stressful and dangerous. Sheng Shaoyou wasn't built to carry a child as an Alpha, but he made it through, and their little Peanut, as they’d nicknamed Hua Sheng, came into the world. 

Things had also changed for Pin Ming and Chang Yu. Now that Hua Yong was acting as Mr. Sheng’s secretary, Pin Ming had taken a different role within the company, one with a higher salary, but one that also demanded more of him. He was still answering to Mr. Sheng, but the man was a bit easier to deal with these days. 

Chang Yu had been running things for awhile at X Holdings, and he was continuing to do so, now with an official new title and raise. His boss had also bought him a new apartment exactly halfway between the two companies with way more room than one person needed. When Chang Yu asked why the apartment was so big, Hua Yong just smiled and said, “In case you wanted to ask someone to live with you.”

For someone who only had eyes for one person, Hua Yong was weirdly perceptive of things happening around him. 

Chang Yu did want to ask someone to live with him, and after they’d been together for only a month, he asked Pin Ming to move in under the guise of an easier commute. It didn’t take much convincing, though Pin Ming’s reasons had nothing to do with the ease of getting to work. He just wanted to see Chang Yu every day, something not always possible with their busy schedules. 

Now they at least got to fall asleep together most nights, even if it was late. It was more than either of them had expected. Both had believed a relationship would be impossible and wouldn’t work with the nature of their jobs. But neither expected to meet someone who understood and was willing to compromise. 

“To finally getting a reprieve while the bosses are nesting,” Pin Ming said cheerfully. 

Chang Yu laughed. “Are you really getting a reprieve? Doesn’t Mr. Sheng still call you to run errands?”

Pin Ming sighed. “Yes. He seems to forget that I’m not his secretary anymore, but I can’t tell him to make Mr. Hua do it.”

“Sure you can.” Chang Yu said. “Because Mr. Hua would do anything he asked.”

“I know. But old habits are hard to break. It hasn’t been that difficult anyway, and it gives me a chance to see the baby.” 

Chang Yu nodded. “My job has gotten much easier. Now I just have to run the company, which is easier than running the company and helping Hua Yong with his love life. I think he has it under control now.”

“Didn’t he give you a new side project though?” Pin Ming had overheard Mr. Sheng and Mr. Hua talking while delivering baby supplies. “Something to do with Secretary Gao?”

“Yes.” Chang Yu looked thoughtful. “No one knows where he is, so I’m trying to track him down.”

“Any luck.”

“None. It’s like he never existed in the first place.”

“Why does Mr. Hua care about Secretary Gao?”

“He doesn’t. But Shen Wenlang is annoying him, so the sooner he finds Secretary Gao for him, the sooner he won’t have to deal with him anymore.” Chang Yu laughed. “Those are his words, not mine. I’m actually concerned about Secretary Gao.”

“Me too,” Pin Ming said. “I hope you find him.”

“I can’t dedicate as much time to it, but I’m doing what I can.” Chang Yu took Pin Ming’s hand. “I feel sorry for Mr. Shen. It’s not easy when the person you love won’t talk to you.”

“I know it too,” Pin Ming said. He looked at Chang Yu lovingly. “So please disappear on me again.”

Chang Yu reached out and pulled Pin Ming close to him. “Never. You’ll always know where I am.”

They continued to talk and flirt and drink, the same routine but it never got old. 

“Hey,” Chang Yu said after the alcohol had loosened him up a bit. “Did you ever want kids?”

Pin Ming thought for a second.. “Not really. But I’m a beta. I figured I’d never be able to.” He suddenly felt anxious. “Did you want them?”

Chang Yu laughed. “No, but I didn’t expect to have a family anyway. I’ve been working for Mr. Hua for so many years, I thought of him as my only family. At least until I met you.”

Pin Ming smiled. “So you’re okay with not having kids? I mean…I could try, but…”

Chang Yu shook his head. “No. When would we have time for a baby? Let’s just spoil Hua Sheng and offer to babysit once in awhile.”

“That sounds good,” Pin Ming said, relieved. “You know though, I like cats. I’d be okay if we got a cat.”

“I like cats too,” Chang Yu said. “Even if I didn’t, I’d get you one, just to make you happy.”

“You already make me happy, Secretary Chang,” Pin Ming said. 

“Then you’ll marry me if I ask?” Chang Yu said. 

Pin Ming’s breath caught. “Are you asking me right now?”

Chang Yu shook his head. “No, because I’m drunk and I want my proposal to be special. This is me wanting to know if you’ll say yes when I do propose.”

“Do you really think I’d ever say ‘no’?”

“No, but I really like it when you say ‘yes.’”

“Then you’d better start working on that proposal so I can.” Then Pin Ming kissed his handsome alpha boyfriend, suddenly excited to be home so he could say ‘yes’ to other things in private. 

Later that night, as the bartender watched them leave, he wondered if he should offer to let them have their wedding at After Hours. They were, after all, his favorite patrons.