Chapter Text
Yu Fan stood in front of the office buildings, camera hanging from his neck while his right hand held his phone tightly, reflecting a message from his boss.
Two weeks ago he was pulled aside to talk with her, and she talked about how they were requested to work on a photoshoot for a rather high-end company.
And so, two weeks later here he stands in front of said company. The outside of the building was shiny, it's not new, he'd seen it multiple times when he was walking around, but somehow it looks new, and that unnerves him. It's too nice a place for someone like him to be.
—
TWO WEEKS AGO
—
"Yu Fan? After this shoot can you come by the studio?" His boss said standing next to him as he scrupulously took photos of their clients on the beach. He grunted in response and nodded, loose pieces of long hair fell to his face. "Alright it, I'll see you there, finish this- up yeah?"
Only another grunt replied, she huffed amusedly, staring at the younger man in front of her before leaving back to the studio while he finished up the photoshoot.
-
Yu Fan settled beside her in an office chair and pulled out a drive, plugging it into his computer and showing her the images he had taken. "The client said they were good, I'll get to editing them tonight." He said curtly, Wang Yue stared at him fondly, "great job dear!"
"Don't call me that."
"Oh my dear.."
He scowled at her through strands of hair, "what did you wanna talk about." He said, she stared at him for a moment before remembering— "Ah! Right right, there's a new job for you."
His brow raised, "When is it?"
"Two weeks from now!" She replied enthusiastically.
"That's too soon, I have other projects.."
She only shook her head, "Dìdi.. it's a great opportunity, and pays very well. Trust me, I wouldn't give you more than you could handle."
Hearing that it pays well, he suddenly became more openminded to the job, "How well does it pay?" He turned the office chair to face her, Wang Yue quickly grabbed her laptop and pulled up an email. "Here!"
She turned the screen to him and he read over it with his eyes, widening slightly as they went over the amount over and over again.
"... shit"
"I know."
"But my other work-"
"I'll get someone else to handle it- or you can work on it during your spare time. I know that Jiang Heng is very capable to handle your work if needed."
Yu Fan hesitated for a movement, glancing to his screen before back at her, "I'll do it."
—
And that's how he ended up here.
Reluctantly, his body forced itself through the front doors and if the outside of the building was nice then this was just extra. Not only were the walls marbled with clearly expensive pieces of art, but there was literally gold as decor. GOLD.
Yu Fan just paused and took in everything, he's wearing a thick sweater, under that was a white T-shirt and black pants. He definitely did not look like he should be here. Not just because of his clothes, but his hair was longer than typically accepted by some people. It's always been a flaw to other people but he never really cared. But here he suddenly feels as if he should gotten a haircut before coming here.
Suddenly the nearby receptionist looked up, her eyes softened as if they could feel the nervousness radiating off him as his eyes kept darting around the room. "Excuse me, sir?"
Yu Fan flipped his head to her, "uh- I have a meeting."
She nodded softly, "Name and purpose for coming?"
"Yu Fan, I work for a photography company.."
Her eyes lit up, "Oh perfect! We've been expecting you." She dug behind the desk and pulled out a temporary visitor badge, "for the duration of your work here you'll be permitted an employee pass. You won't get it yet though so for now please take this visitors badge until you get your official one."
He nodded and took it from her hands hesitantly, "Thank you, where should I..?"
"Ah right" she stood and pointed over to a digital map on a nearby wall, speaking something about the '7th floor' but all he could think was 'fuck, this place is too nice..' and began regretting his decisions.
After she finished speaking he awkwardly nodded as she sat back down and continued typing on her desk top. He went over to the elevator, scanned his badge and pressed the seventh floor, tapping his foot anxiously and forgetting with his camera settings, praying to whatever god fucked up his life to please throw him a bone and let this job be quick and easy.
He stepped in and looked around the clean elevator, he feels like as if this place was perfectly clean until he walked in. And though it's not a feeling he's unfamiliar with, it's not one he likes either.
After a few minutes passed he arrived on the seventh floor and was greeted by some assistant, "Hello, Yu Fan? Correct?" Yu Fan nodded with false confidence.
"Come this way, you'll talk to our director first, and at some point during this week you'll speak to our CEO, it may be today or by the end of the week so I hope you'll keep your schedule open." The person rambled as Yu Fan followed behind him.
They both paused in front of an office door with the name plate 'Director Luo" on it. The assistant knocked and a voice rang through with: "come in."
Yu Fan who was reticent to go in was eventually pushed forward politely by the assistant who opened the door for him, when in the assistant bowed quickly to the director as Yu Fan did the same.
The director stared at him with narrowed eyes, the man was older than him for certain. Yu Fan thought the older would start nitpicking his messy appearance as others have done before. But the man smiled politely, "You're Yu Fan? The photographer?" Caught off guard by his politeness, Yu Fan nodded thoughtlessly. The man gestured to the seat in front of him, "please take a seat." And so he did.
"Now typically we know you photograph people, but as we are a tech company, while you will occasionally photograph our staff, this will mainly be.. what's the word.."
"A still-life photography?"
"Yes, correct, as expected of a professional. Still-life, that's what you'll be doing primarily, you'll follow around one of our staff members who'll be our guide here. Wang Na will be your guide. She'll show you to where you'll work."
"I'll be working here?"
He nodded, "yes, is that a problem?"
"No, I'm just used to working from home."
"That can be arranged if you prefer."
"No- this is fine, thank you Director Luo."
The older man smiled warmly at him before handing him a contract, "This is our contract involving the staff list and our CEO who you may meet eventually."
Yu Fan nodded, taking the contract in hand, "I've been told.." but his words dragged off as he read the top name.
'CEO CHEN JINGSHEN.'
His hands shook and gripped the paper slightly tighter as he began feeling his heart beat faster. Catching his panic, the Director looked over in concern before signalling to the assistant to get some water. He left quickly and closed the door behind him.
"Are you fine?" He said worriedly, but Yu Fan couldn't speak. His heart raced quicker as his eyes ran themselves over the name over and over again. Surely it can't be the same Chen Jingshen, right..?
"I- I'm sorry, I don't think I can take this job." He said shallowly, the man looked surprised for a movement before speaking calmly, "Why not?"
".. I.." Yu Fan put the papers back down on the desk, "I know someone on that list." The man listened quietly, "And.. we.. I fear that our personally relationship will prevent my work."
"May I know who it is?"
".. I'd.. rather not say."
The older nodded understandingly, usually he wouldn't be so understanding but after the company a few years ago began hiring younger members, and mandatory meetings were called. He'd become more understanding of matters like this.
"We do truly want to work with you, you're very talented and well recommended."
"... thank you, but I just don't think I can-"
"We will pay you double for your work."
"Sir-"
"Understand that this isn't a matter of personal affairs, we will pay you for the discomfort of this experience, but you are the person who we first wanted for this."
Yu Fan really wished he had a cigarette right now, though he hasn't smoked in years, he still needed an outlet if he was gonna deal with even the presence of Chen Jingshen.
"... Can I have a day to think about it?"
Reluctantly the man nodded, a day off their schedule was troubling but nothing that he couldn't handle. "That's alright."
"... thank you." And as soon as their conversation ended Yu Fan stood up and left quickly, walking past the assistant who held a bottle of water. And to the elevator, scanning his badge hastily and quickly pressed to go down to the ground floor.
As soon as the doors opened he ran out of the building, the sharp tapping of his shoes on the smooth clean floors became rugged and rough as he ran outside. He found his way to a quiet area and grabbed at his chest, rapidly breathing and holding back tears.
"Fuck.. fuck.." he sobbed quietly as he hid his face from the world that didn't bother to look his way.
It can't be him. Surely there's another Chen Jingshen out in the world. If it was him..
That's not fair.
His heart raced quickly, his body shaking slightly as he forced back sobs, tears welling in his eyes as he hid away his phone and bit the inside of his cheek.
Eventually he composed himself enough to go back home. But the entire night he laid in bed. Wondering if it's really, truly him.
—
MEANWHILE
—
Chen Jingshen's phone showed the time '9:47 pm' on itself screen as he finished up what he was working on his screen. This certainly was not the job he wanted up until two years ago. When his relative passed away and had left him the company. He originally wanted to start from scratch, but his family was incessant given the fact that his mother was sick and kept begging for him to have a 'better life'. So reluctantly he decided to run the company his own way.
But he never forgot the one person he would keep moving forward for.
‘Yu Fan…’ he thought quietly as he opened a desk drawer and pulled out a messy slip of paper. The handwriting barely legible on it. But he smiled fondly as he held it to his chest.
Then a knock on his door.
“Sir? It’s me, Director Luo.”
Chen Jingshen hummed before putting the paper back into his drawer, “Come in.”
Director Luo came in and closed the door behind him, Chen Jingshen sat up and looked at him with professionalism. “What did you need Director Luo?”
“The photographer.”
Chen Jingshen nodded, implying that he should continue speaking.
“The photographer has decided to reconsider this project.”
His brows furrowed, “Why did they do that?”
“Apparently the photographer knows someone working here and doesn’t want to conflict personal affairs with professional ones.”
Chen Jingshen nodded quietly, “Did they tell you who it is they know?” The director shook his head, “No, but judging by how they reacted, it seems to be a very complicated relationship.”
He rested his elbows on his desk and leaned forward to look over at the Director. “Isn’t there another one we can hire?”
“There is, but this one is high recommended, very popular and good at what they do.” Director Luo said, thought Chen Jingshen understood, they couldn’t hesitate for very long. “We’d best just find someone new.”
“Ah, if I may-“ Chen Jingshen looked over at the Director, “He— the photographer said that he’d reconsider, not entirely reject the offer. We offered to pay him more so he’d reconsider.”
“How much more Director?”
“Double the amount for the discomfort he’d have to endure.” The director said nervously, scared his boss would be mad at him for the sudden pay increase.
Chen Jingshen didn’t really care about the money though. Only thought for a second, “Is he truly that good at his job?”
The director nodded, “Yes sir.” He said, taking out some reference images and showing them to the CEO, whose eyes widened when he saw the photos. He felt a faint feeling of nostalgia.
“.. I see, we can wait until tomorrow and not a moment more.”
The director nodded and Chen Jingshen dismissed him. His mind only wandered back to his boyfriend, Yu Fan. In his head, they were still together, since they’d never technical broken up.
He smiled to the ceiling as his head looked up at nothing, thinking about that logic, Chen Jingshen is sure that Yu Fan would scold him for that kind of thinking. And then become extremely flushed.
His eyes softened with the memory of his loves’ open show of feelings even if he tried to hide it.
“Yu Fan… please come back to me soon..”
He said, before shutting his eyes.