Hao Ming Yu's working life is the same as always, but lately, he has become busier due to the suburban resort project. At first, he felt glad that most of his ideas and suggestions were accepted and used in the project. But now, he slightly regrets doing that.

As the brainstormer, he needed to meet with the General Manager and Executive Director most of the time. If it were only Jin Zihao, he would not mind. But because he was with the other man, he couldn't even lift his head to look at the Executive Director when he was talking to him.

When he talks to Jin Zihao, the other guy at least responds or asks him back, but Jin Liwei stares at the paper or... him.

He didn't know whether the Executive Director was mad, annoyed, unsatisfied, or confused by what he explained. The man was expressionless all the time.

"S- sir... Is there any part that I could improve or maybe change?" Hao Ming Yu braced himself to ask, as he could no longer stand staying in the same room with him.

Jin Liwei finally moves his eyes from the paper in his hand to the guy before him. Hao Ming Yu fiddled with his fingers, his head staring at the floor. "How long have you been working here?" Jin Liwei asked.

Hao Ming Yu was slightly surprised by the sudden question, but he answered it anyway, "One year and two months, sir."

Jin Liwei hums. "This means you are not new here."

"...y-yes, sir."

"Then why are you acting like you just started working yesterday, no, more like you were an intern. Acting so timid, keep hiding your gaze. If one day you have to deal with a client, how are you going to convince them if you keep behaving like this?" Jin Liwei didn't raise his voice but could still make anyone who heard this feel low-spirited and downhearted.

Hao Ming Yu fidgets and doesn't know how to respond to his new boss.

"The General Manager had informed me about you, but I don't want to know or care about it. What I want to know is that you must overcome your problem." Hao Ming Yu felt even more disheartened. He never wished other people to pity him or care about him. He also didn't want people to keep sympathizing with him, which is why he avoided being with others so people wouldn't see his weak side.

However, Jin Liwei's next words slightly lift his spirit back. "Yes, I might not know how crucial your problem is but you cannot keep living in the shadow of your dark past. A year has passed, so you should start to move on and start getting better. Not only for yourself but also for your family or close friends. Don't let your past cause you to become weak."

Hao Ming Yu slowly raises his head to look at the man before him. But he won't even last a few seconds before staring at the floor again. The sharp gaze of Jin Liwei makes him feel like the other guy could read his mind and even scan his past life.

Jin Liwei sighs. While flipping through the paper in his hand, he continues, "It doesn't have to be drastic. Just make changes slowly. I'm sure you will enjoy your life more. You only live once and you are still young. Don't waste your youth by mourning your past."

Jin Liwei puts back the paper on the table and pushes it toward Hao Ming Yu. "This paperwork is fine. Just proceed. You can leave now."

When Hao Ming Yu takes the paper, he bows and says, "Thank you, sir." Then he turns and leaves the room. Jin Liwei stares at the guy who is rushing to get out.

A sudden thought crossed his mind, "What kind of past did he have until he became like that?" But he instantly brushed it off and resumed his work.

Meanwhile, Jin Liwei's words are still stuck in Hao Ming Yu's mind. He keeps thinking about them all day. His parents, Mu Shilin, Li Weizhe, and even the General Manager never said that to him. They would always say, 'It's okay', 'Take your time', or 'Don't be stressed'.

So when the new Executive Director told him not to mourn his past and overcome it, somehow he feels motivated to do and be better in his life.

Hao Ming Yu is already lying on the bed, preparing to sleep, and he is still thinking about Jin Liwei's words. 'Yes, what Mr. Jin said was right. I only live once, so why would I waste my life like this?' His respect for Jin Liwei rockets.

This is how he wished people would react when they knew about him. He kinda dislikes when people say, 'poor you', 'it must be hard on you', and 'are you okay now?'. He doesn't need any more pity for his tragic life. He needs someone who can push him to go forward and slowly forget his trauma.

However, his parents and his two best buddies never said anything like what Jin Liwei said to him. He didn't blame them because he knew they were trying not to hurt his feelings. While staring at the ceiling, Hao Ming Yu kept thinking about Jin Liwei's words. Never once would he have thought that the one who would say such a thing would be his new boss, and this makes him scared of Jin Liwei even more because he feels that with a sharp gaze, Jin Liwei can even penetrate his soul.

During work, Hao Ming Yu tries his best not to meet the Executive Director unless necessary. If he sees him enter the elevator, he uses the stairs or waits for another elevator. During lunch hour, he makes sure Jin Liwei is not at the company's cafe before he starts eating.

Mu Shilin noticed his best friend acting weird the whole week. He couldn't help but ask, "Ming Yu, what's wrong with you these days?"

Hao Ming Yu blinks repeatedly and looks at Mu Shilin with his guileless face. "Me? Nothing wrong. Why are you asking?"

"Don't say nothing wrong. Clearly, you were trying to avoid our Executive Director." Mu Shilin noticed the panic on Hao Ming Yu's face. "Am I right? Don't lie to me. It's not like we just met each other last week. Now, tell me. Why are you avoiding Mr. Jin?"

They were at the company's cafe, so Hao Ming Yu looked left and right before leaning forward and whispering, "I'm...kinda scared of him."

Mu Shilin frowns. "Scared? Why? Did he do anything to you?"

"Yeah, I mean no- I mean, yes but not physically."

"What do you mean not physically? Is it emotionally? Did he insult or swear at you?"

Hao Ming Yu shakes his head. "He... he said he knew a little bit about my problem from our General Manager and... he asked me to move on and stop thinking about it. He said I need to boost my confidence, something like that."

Mu Shilin tilts his head, "Then, what's wrong with it? I don't think he said anything that can make you feel scared of him."

Hao Ming Yu bites his lips and clenches his fist, "I don't know how to explain but the way he talked to me is scary. I feel like if I ever spend longer time with him, he can even discover my trauma. That man is like a fortune-teller. You don't have to say anything to him. Just one glance he already knows your life history."

Mu Shilin leans back on the chair and stares at his best friend, speechless. "Dude, really?"

"What?"

"You are just thinking too much. Maybe he just said that out of formality, from a superior to his subordinate. I guess everyone can notice how you acted. You barely look at other people when you talk to them, you always stand far from them and you even shrink your body or flinch when someone gets close to you. Even the security guard or the cleaner would say the same thing if they looked at you carefully. Mr. Jin Liwei is our Executive Director, of course, he wanted his staff to be confident and has high self-esteem."

Hao Ming Yu heaves a heavy sigh. "Nah. It's different. It's okay. Maybe one day you would understand what I meant. But for now, I don't want to stay in the same place with him. As long as I can avoid it, I will avoid it."

Mu Shilin chuckles. A faint smile appeared on his lips. Since the dark incident happened, Hao Ming Yu has always looked gloomy and barely has any expression on his face. But now, seeing his anxious face, Mu Shilin feels a bit happy. 'Finally, you look like a human, not a mannequin.'

"Up to you. But don't you remember you are in charge of the advertisement planning for the suburban resort? That's one of the most important parts of our project and also the part that our Executive Director keeps pressing on. In other meaning, you will need to see him more often in the future until our project is done...which is three to six months." Mu Shilin smirks.

Hao Ming Yu's jaw dropped. He grips his hair and mumbles, "I'm dead... I'm so dead..." 

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