Things are not going as Hao Ming Yu planned. The more he tried to avoid Jin Liwei, the more he would meet the other guy. Even the spirit and motivation to do his first project slowly dissipated.

Mu Shilin keeps telling Hao Ming Yu to ignore it and focus on his work instead. Hao Ming Yu tried to do it as he was told, but once Jin Liwei's eyes fell on him, he could feel the shiver down his spine. Therefore, the courage to change his habit has gone, and now he lowers his head even more and talks less with his colleagues than before.

Due to the project, his workload keeps increasing. At 9:00 p.m., the time passed, and Hao Ming Yu was still at the office. If it was up to him, he would continue the work tomorrow, but it would increase the workload even more. This is the first time he has stayed back so late since he started working here.

Hao Ming Yu has no one else to blame but himself. His worries over an unnecessary thing distracted him until it got in the way of his job.

Hao Ming Yu was staring at the mountain of papers on his table when a voice came from behind. "Why are you still here?" Hao Ming Yu flinched hard and even the paper in his hand fell onto the floor.

He was flustered. He quickly picks up the paper, then turns around and stands, "S- sir... I still have something to do."

Jin Liwei looks at his watch and turns to Hao Ming Yu: " Can't you do it tomorrow? It's already nine. The guard will turn off all the lights in one and a half hours."

Hao Ming Yu became anxious. His work still has a long way from being done and there is no way he could finish it tonight. As he was lost in his thoughts, Jin Liwei sighed.

He moves closer to Hao Ming Yu, causing the other guy to take a few steps back. Jin Liwei didn't care about it. He glanced at the paper on Hao Ming Yu's table and asked, "What's the matter? Is there any problem with the project?" Jin Liwei pulls the chair next to Hao Ming Yu's table and sits on it. He maintains a meter distance between himself and Hao Ming Yu.

"What about the other guys? If it is related to the project, there must be some other people with you too?" Hao Ming Yu remains silent. "What? Did they push their work on you?"

Hao Ming Yu instantly shakes his head, "N- No, sir. It's just... this is my job, my part. And, it was me who insisted on getting this done by today."

Jin Liwei was taken aback when Hao Ming Yu slightly raised his voice, talking in long lines and so fast. He was gaping as he stared at him. Jin Liwei clears his throat and straightens his back. He side-glanced at Hao Ming Yu and reached out his palm, "Show me. What is the problem?"

Seeing his superior has taken a seat and is serious about helping him out, Hao Ming Yu stealthily returns to his chair. He picks up a paper with a map of the project area and passes it to Jin Liwei.

"They decided to expand the area a little bit more than the original plan. The construction team said that it is better to do so because there is a natural stream. It is hard to build anything near so they decided to expand the area and make the stream one of the attractions at our resort. However, there is a residential area in that place..." Hao Ming Yu stops talking and steals a glance at the man beside him.

With his eyes still on the map, Jin Liwei asks, "Then, what is the problem? The residents don't want to move away?" Hao Ming Yu nods hesitantly.

"What did the management offer to them if they agreed to move?" Jin Liwei puts the map on the table and turns to Hao Ming Yu.

"They said every resident that agreed to move will be given 1.7 million RMB (about $250,00 USD)."

Jin Liwei furrowed his eyebrows. "Are they crazy?? What can those residents do with that puny amount of money? If they move around that area the money still won't be enough to buy another house, what's more, if they decided to move to other places where the house price is five to ten times more expensive?!"

Hao Ming Yu lowers his head and plays with his fingers. He whines in his heart, 'Why are you getting mad at me?! It was not me who decided that. Go and scold the management. I'm just carrying out their orders.'

Hao Ming Yu flinches when Jin Liwei heaves a heavy sigh. He steals a glance at his boss and notices the frowning face.

"It's okay. I will tell the management about this." Jin Liwei rises from his seat and straightens his coat. "You, go back now. It's already late." Hao Ming Yu nods obediently.

Only when Jin Liwei is out of sight does Hao Ming Yu dare to sigh in relief. He looks at the time on his phone, which shows 9:45 pm. Hao Ming Yu wastes no more time, quickly packs his bag, and runs out of the company building.

Walking from the company building to the nearest bus stop takes about five minutes. Hao Ming Yu looks at the bus schedule, and the next bus will be coming in another half an hour. Hao Ming Yu wants to go back as soon as possible, but he doesn't want to spend money on taxi fares, so he can only sit and wait for another thirty minutes.

Hao Ming Yu takes out his phone and puts on his earphones. He was lost in the music until he didn't notice a car had stopped in front of him. Hao Ming Yu flinched when he heard a loud honk. Hao Ming Yu instantly lifts his head and sees a black BMW M6 parked in front of the bus stop.

Hao Ming Yu tilts his head to get a better look as the car window rolls down and his eyes widen as he sees his boss, Jin Liwei. "Why are you still here?"

'Because I don't have a house so I sleep at the bus stop!' Hao Ming Yu rolled his eyes in his mind. "I'm waiting for the bus, sir."

"When is the next bus coming?"

"Another twenty minutes...I guess.."

"And you still gonna wait that long? Can't you just take a taxi or *DiDi?"

[*China's Uber/Grab]

'Are you gonna pay for it?' Hao Ming Yu smiles faintly and lowers his head, with no intention of answering the question.

'Just go. Why are you still here? Go. Move along. Shoo! Shoo!' Hao Ming Yu starts fiddling with his fingers and getting anxious because Jin Liwei is still looking at him.

"Hao Ming Yu!" The loud voice makes him flinch for the second time. "Get in!"

"H- huh?"

"I said get in. How long are you gonna wait here? It's already late. If you keep waiting, when are you gonna arrive home? You still need to work tomorrow."

To be honest, Hao Ming Yu also doesn't feel safe waiting at the bus stop. At the same time, he also doesn't want to be alone with his superior. But, compared to meeting a dangerous stranger, his boss is a better choice. At least, if something happened to him, he knows who to sue.

Clenching his bag strap, Hao Ming Yu carefully steps toward the car. He bends his body until his head pops in front of the car window. "S- sir... can I... sit at the back?"

Jin Liwei's eyes and lips form a thin line (😑). "Am I your personal driver? Sit at the front!"

Hao Ming Yu scrunched up his nose and pouted. Slowly, he opens the door to the passenger seat. He puts his bag on his lap and hugs it tightly.

Jin Liwei huffs as he notices the other guy sitting so far, plastered to the door, to the point that if someone suddenly opens the door, he would fall outside. "Put your address on the screen." He breaks the silence in the car. Hao Ming Yu carefully types his home address on the screen monitor. Jin Liwei looks at the address and hums. "Not that far," he mumbles.

The whole journey was dead silence. No one tried to initiate a conversation. With this expensive car, the journey that would have taken thirty minutes by bus turned into fifteen minutes.

Jin Liwei parked in front of the apartment building. Hao Ming Yu unfasten the seat belt then he rummages inside his bag. He took the money that was supposed to be used for bus fares, added a few dollars, and put it on the dashboard. "Thank you, Mr. Jin, for giving me a lift." He nodded and quickly got out of the car.

Jin Liwei stares at the money on the dashboard, too stunned to speak. It took him a minute to pull himself out of the shock. He picks up the money and turns to the receding figure. "Am I looking like I'm so stingy and will tell the whole company that I gave him a ride but he didn't pay for the gas?"

Jin Liwei scoffs, starts to laugh and shakes his head, "Truly... a weird guy."

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