Ten minutes before six, Hao Ming Yu started to pack his stuff and clean up his desk, getting ready to return home. Everyone else gathered around, excited for the company dinner with the new executive director. 

Ladies keep refreshing their makeup. Some men also tried to make themselves look presentable and tried to think of good things to say to stay on the good side. 

"You guys ready?" Jin Zihao came to their department with Jin Liwei tagging behind. 

"Yes, Manager." The ladies answered coquettishly. 

Hao Ming Yu had just picked up his bag and froze. He stood still, waiting for them to leave first. He shrank his body, making himself unnoticed. But luck was not on his side. 

"Hao Ming Yu? Getting home?" Jin Zihao approached. 

Hao Ming Yu clenched on the bag strap. "Y- Yes, Manager." 

"Why don't you join us for today? You know... sometimes you need to socialize with others too. That's what working in a team means. So, come on. Join us." Jin Zihao lowers his tone, slightly pleads. 

Hao Ming Yu raised his head and flinched when he noticed a fierce gaze from behind Jin Zihao. 'Seems like I already get on the bad side of the new director'.

"So- sorry, Manager. Not today." He bobs his head apologetically. He fidgets under the heated stare. 

Jin Zihao sighs. "It's alright. Go home and rest. Take care of yourself." Hao Ming Yu nods to Jin Zihao and then to Jin Liwei. After that, he slips away under everyone's gaze. As soon as he gets onto the bus, Hao Ming Yu heaves a sigh of relief. He doesn't know how long he can use this excuse. 

The company is a good one. The employer is kind, and the co-workers are friendly. The environment is good, and the pay is nice. But being too friendly is not good for Hao Ming Yu. Even though he has stopped shaking whenever a man approaches him, he still can't get too close to them. 

The first few months were a little bit disastrous. Hao Ming Yu gladly introduced himself when the women approached him to get to know him. But once some guys approached him, he started to move away as if he were avoiding a plague. Those guys thought Hao Ming Yu was being an asshole and wanted to get to know the girls only as he was good-looking. They even mock him all the time. 

Not until Jin Zihao himself suddenly got close to him. Jin Zihao wanted to tap on his shoulder, but Hao Ming Yu unexpectedly slumped onto the floor and trembled hard. The whole department was shocked; until now, no one could forget that incident. Luckily, Mu Shilin was there, and he knew Hao Ming Yu always carried around anti-anxiety pills with him. 

With Hao Ming Yu's permission, Mu Shilin only explains his real condition to Jin Zihao. To clarify, Hao Ming Yu was not trying to be rude, and he was suffering from PTSD. Mu Shilin only told their co-workers that Hao Ming Yu had a trauma, but he didn't go into details. Hao Ming Yu doesn't want to be sympathized with. 

Jin Zihao understood the matter and kept it a secret. As a friendly and caring General Manager, Jin Zihao tried to make Hao Ming Yu as comfortable as possible while working in the company. That is why he never forced Hao Ming Yu to go to the dinner, even though he hoped he would finally accept the invitation one day. 

Meanwhile, Jin Zihao has booked half of the restaurant not far from the company. Of course, reservations need to be made; otherwise, they can't even enter the restaurant at peak time. 

Sitting in the middle of the long table, Jin Li Wei keeps on chugging the beer. He doesn't look like he is angry or in a bad mood. He just....doesn't want to care. 

They all sent signals towards Jin Zihao, asking him to start talking about the new executive director. 

Jin Zihao clears his throat. "Seems like everyone so eager to get to know our new boss. So... " He looks at Jin Liwei and blinks repeatedly. 'Help me, please... Just answer them or they won't let us go home.' 

Jin Liwei rolls his eyes. 

"If you guys want to ask any questions, go on. Feel free to ask. Don't be shy." Jin Zihao nudges on Liwei's arm. 

The women look at each other, but no one dares to start. 

"Excuse me..." The woman sits in the middle and raises her hand. "How old is the Director?" She asked, but more like she was asking on behalf of other women. She's a married woman with a four-year-old son. So, if she's the one who asked, no one will say anything.

"33." 

"......." 

Another woman asked, "Director and Manager, are guys related?" 

"Yeah. We're cousins," Zihao answered. 

"Which university did you graduate from?" This time, a man asked. 

"Harvard Business School." 

Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts. It is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the world. All of them swallow their saliva.

"Director, are you going to stay here permanently or you will go back to States soon?" 

"......." 

Jin Liwei didn't answer—not because he didn't want to but because he didn't have the answer. His task in the States is done, and he supposedly returned to this country half a year ago. But he prolonged his stay until his father asked him to take over the company because his father wanted to go on vacation with his mother. 

"Hmmm... maybe our director will stay because President Jin needs some vacation and spending time with Madam." 

A woman sitting in the farthest seat bashfully raised her hand. "Director, d- do you have... a lover?" She lowers her head, hiding her red face.

"No." 

"Did Director ever think about marriage?" 

"No." 

"Why? Director is waiting for someone?" 

"No. No one suits me." 

The table suddenly fell into silence. If Jin Liwei answered with overconfidence or a playful tone, they might laugh it off. But the fact that he answered with a straight poker face implies that he means it when he says no one suits him. In other words, NO ONE IS ON THE SAME LEVEL AS HIM. 

Jin Zihao stiffly laughs to break the tension in the air. "This guy is always like this. Please don't mind his words. Come on, drink up. Order more. Don't hold back." 

Thanks to the General Manager, the atmosphere turned lively again. Jin Zihao scratched his head. He glanced sideways at his cousin. They no longer dared ask Jin Liwei any more questions. They decided to eat their fill. 

As everyone was busy chatting, they stopped paying attention to Zihao and Liwei. "Hey, can you at least speak nicely or be friendly with them? They are your subordinates." 

"Because they are my subordinates that I should treat them like that. I can't let them get ahead of themselves thinking that they can easily invade my privacy." 

Zihao sighs. "Maybe...they are concerned about you." 

"That's called nosy not a concern." Liwei is eyeing his cousin. "Aren't you too kind with them? Aren't you afraid that they will take advantage of you?"

Zihao smiles faintly. "Politeness and consideration for others are like investing pennies and getting dollars back. If we're being kind and considerate to them, they'll feel happy to work for us. Life is not so short but that there is always time for courtesy." Zihao pats his shoulder.

Suddenly, Liwei remembered the previous guy at the company—the timid one who always looked at the floor as if someone kept pressing down his head. Liwei looked at Zihao; he squinted. 

"What?" The judging eyes of Liwei make Zihao uncomfortable.

"But aren't you too chummy with the guy at the company? Looks like you cared about him a bit too much. Aren't you afraid of your wife being jealous? He's quite...a looker." 

Zihao frowns. He is thinking hard about who the 'guy' Liwei mentioned is. 

"Ah...you mean Hao Ming Yu?" But then he smirks. "Looker? It is a bit rare for Mr. Jin Liwei to say someone a 'looker'. Don't tell me you're interested in him?" He wiggles his eyebrows.

"Don't change the topic. We're talking about you now. If you're cheating, I will tell your wife right this time."  

Zihao stifles his laugh. "Alright. Let me tell you. Hao Ming Yu... he is a bit special case. He's a good and diligent worker but something happened to him before. That is why he looks scared most of the time. Well, he's getting much better actually than the few months he started work at the company. Maybe because you're a stranger so that's why he's a little bit afraid of you. But don't worry, he's a nice kid." 

"You speak so nice of him as if you've known him for years." Liwei huffs. 

"Somehow, he looks so cute like a bunny. I feel he's like a little brother to me. By the way, my wife knew about him. I've told him about Hao Ming Yu and he even asked me to bring him home." 

"Are you husband and wife open up a charity organization or something? Taking in anyone who needs help? He's an adult for God's sake. Don't treat him as if he is a toddler." 

"Can't help it. My "gege" mode automatically turned on whenever he is around. And you!" Zihao points his finger at Liwei, "Don't make it hard on him. If you want him to give him any work or talk to him, make sure you stay at least two meters away from him." 

"Two meters? Why?" 

"Because he is not used to you so your presence might scare him."

Liwei scoffs. "What a weird guy. Am I gonna eat him or what?" He rolls his eyes.

Zihao squinted and stared at Liwei with scrutinizing eyes. "Well, you do look like you can 'eat' him clean, leaving no crumbs."

Liwei's lips move, but no sound is heard. He mouthed, 'Fuck off'.

Zihao's mouth twitched. He shakes his head and sighs. Praying that the bunny will be safe from the wolf.

[A/N: Jin Zihao's wife is a man]

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