Since the incident in the meeting room, Team Leader Yan's hatred toward Hao Ming Yu has increased to the maximum. He feels that Hao Ming Yu keeps being a nuisance and a hindrance. He doesn't know how Hao Ming Yu managed to inform the Executive Director of everything. But he thought wrong, as Hao Ming Yu never mentioned anything to their boss, but the man himself was a genius for finding out on his own.

Even though the whole department was gossiping about him, Team Leader Yan ignored it. He still thinks he is superior to everyone.

Meanwhile, Hao Ming Yu received a cold shoulder from him. Usually, any report or proposal needs to be revised or checked by the team leader. But whenever Hao Ming Yu tried to meet Team Leader Yan, he would be ignored by the latter. Sometimes, Hao Ming Yu even had to use Mu Shilin to get approval from Team Leader Yan.

At first, Hao Ming Yu wanted to ignore it, but the treatment was getting worse day by day. Little did Hao Ming Yu know that someone would worsen the situation.

After lunch, Hao Ming Yu was shocked when he was called to the Executive Director's room. When the staff informed him, Team Leader Yan, who was sitting in his cubicle, could hear it. He instantly lifted his head and stared deathly at Hao Ming Yu.

Hao Ming Yu, who was in a daze, didn't notice it. He followed the staff without turning back, oblivious to the fuming man.

Hao Ming Yu went to the top floor and carefully knocked on the biggest office in the company. He entered as someone inside ordered him to. Hao Ming Yu bows and greets the man in front of him: "Director Jin, are you looking for me?"

Jin Liwei hums. "Next week, you are coming with me. We are going to the new resort area to meet the residents. We will depart this Sunday."

Hao Ming Yu's jaw dropped. He stares at his boss and blinks his eyes repeatedly. It takes him a minute to pull himself out of his daze. "...s- sorry, Director. W- what were you saying?"

"I said you are coming with me to meet the residents at the new resort. Do you need me to repeat it for the third time? Or maybe should I record it so you can keep replaying it?"

"N- no. It's okay. I heard it. It's just... why me? Isn't it supposed to be Team Leader Yan who needs to meet them? W- why...me?"

"I think you heard that I told him to meet the residents as soon as possible but now four days have passed and I saw no progress from his side. So, I decided to take you with me because the paperwork that Team Leader Yan presented was done by you, isn't it?"

Hao Ming Yu fiddles with his fingers anxiously. Again, he never told anyone about that, but why would the Executive Director know it was him? "H- how did you know?"

"Let's just say I'm a keen observer. One look, I already can guess everything."

"B- but Director... I think it is better if you asked Team Leader Yan to go with you. I'm just one of the project members. Isn't it better if the team leader goes there?"

"Yes you are just a team member but you know better than the team leader."

Hao Ming Yu clenched his fist and took a deep breath. "Director, I think you still need to bring Team Leader Yan with you. I- It's not like Team Leader Yan knows nothing! He knows... knows a lot b- but maybe not in details. But it's okay! I can brief or tell him everything about the resort. So..."

Hao Ming Yu couldn't continue as he felt the heated gaze from Jin Liwei. He swallows his saliva nervously.

"Who is the boss, me or you?"

"Y- You, director."

"And then, should I listen to you or you should listen to me?" Hao Ming Yu just hung his head low and didn't answer the question.

"You are well-informed about the project so why would I wait for you to brief it to the team leader then the team leader informs me when I can just drag YOU along?"

"Still... other staff won't agree and... that person will keep holding a grudge against me." Hao Ming Yu mumbles the last part. Jin Liwei barely heard it, but he caught "a grudge" part.

"What can they do if they disagree? Why do I need their approval for who I want to take along? And are you afraid Team Leader Yan will despise you and hold a grudge against you because of this?" Hao Ming Yu just stared at the floor.

Jin Liwei heaves a heavy sigh. To be honest, he already knows what kind of person Team Leader Yan is. Even though he is in the top position, it doesn't mean he didn't know what happened in other departments and on other floors. Rumours about Team Leader Yan's abuse of power are not a new topic among the staff. But they can only talk behind him, as no one dares to oppose him.

As Jin Liwei already knows about Team Leader Yan, the more reason he doesn't want to take him along. Instead of easing his work, he would bring a bootlicker and a burden.

"I don't care. I want YOU to come with me, not him. If others want to talk about it, let them be. And don't worry about Team Leader Yan. I will inform him too but it depends on him whether he wants to come along or not."

Hao Ming Yu slowly nods twice, with no choice but to obey the order.

"This Sunday, I will pick you up from your apartment around 12:30. We will stay there for about a week or the earliest is three to four days."

"Di- director... It's okay... No need to pick me up..."

Jin Liwei looks at Hao Ming Yu with a blank expression. "We're taking a flight and your house is the same way as the airport. It is easier to go together than having to find each other there. Don't worry. The accommodation and flight fare are paid by the company."

Hao Ming Yu was about to say another refusal word, but Jin Liwei was already shooing him. Hao Ming Yu just leaves the office with heavy steps. He walked very slowly so he could think of an excuse or reason to say if Team Leader Yan ever asked him why Director Jin called for him.

Lucky him that as he arrived at their department, the same staff who had called him before were now talking to Team Leader Yan, asking him to meet Director Jin. The man who has been called instantly makes his way to the director's office.

Hao Ming Yu didn't know what Director Jin told Team Leader Yan until the latter was smiling from ear to ear, and he didn't even ask Hao Ming Yu about his meeting with the director. Well, whatever the reason, Hao Ming Yu felt a bit relieved since he didn't need to be interrogated by that person.

The days passed, and Sunday arrived. Hao Ming Yu had just brought medium luggage and a backpack with him. Five minutes before 12:30, he walked back and forth in the living room, thinking whether to go down now or wait another few minutes.

But his phone suddenly rings, and an unknown number appears on the screen. "H—Hello?"

"Hao Ming Yu, you can come down now. I'm already at the front of your apartment." The call was hung up right after.

Hao Ming Yu didn't have to think too hard to guess who it was, but he wondered how Director Jin got his number. He pushed aside the thought for a moment and left his apartment.

As he left the apartment building, he saw Jin Liwei leaning on a grey BMW. Hao Ming Yu walked toward him. "Director," he greets. He also bows to the man beside Jin Liwei, Huang Yuze, his secretary.

Huang Yuze approached him but maintained a fair distance between them. He smiled widely and said, "Hello, Mr. Hao. Let me get your bag." Hao Ming Yu passed the luggage but insisted on holding on to the backpack.

Jin Liwei has already got into the backseat. Hao Ming Yu wanted to open the door for the front passenger, but Huang Yuze had already opened the backseat door for him. With the wide smile that never ceases and the spread-out arm, Hao Ming Yu has no choice but to sit beside Jin Liwei.

Hao Ming Yu puts his backpack in between them and sticks it to the car door while gripping the seatbelt tightly. Jin Liwei is already used to this sight, so he doesn't pay attention to it and keeps doing his work on his iPad.

Meanwhile, Huang Yuze watched the two of them through the rearview mirror. His eyebrows kept on knitting as he watched Hao Ming Yu being on guard against his boss.

The journey to the airport took 45 minutes. Huang Yuze parked the car at the airport drop-off area and took out the luggage from the trunk.

"If anything happened, just contact Manager Jin (Jin Zihao). If there is any document that needs approval, you can also give it to him. For unimportant meetings, the Manager to Jin attend and for important meetings, postpone them until next week. Don't forget to report to me every day." Jin Liwei reminds his secretary again.

Huang Yuze keeps nodding, understanding. "For the return flight ticket, when should I buy it?"

"I'll inform you later on." Huang Yuze nods again.

Hao Ming Yu grips the backpack strap tightly at the side while watching the boss and his secretary interact. His forehead creases, and Jin Liwei notices it.

"What's wrong? Why are you looking like that?" Jin Liwei asked.

"Mr. Huang d- didn't come with us? Is it just... the two of us?" Hao Ming Yu timidly raised the question.

"Why? Do you want to bring the whole department with you?"

Hao Ming Yu shakes his head and smiles sheepishly. 'I'm asking you nicely, can't you answer it properly?!'

Hao Ming Yu lowered his head and gripped the strap tightly. He looked like an abandoned puppy, which seemed so pitiful. Huang Yuze, who knows his boss' temper really well, answered on Jin Liwei's behalf, "Mr. Hao, I need to handle other work at the company, that's why I couldn't come along. Moreover, the presence of the two of you is more than enough to resolve this matter. But still, there will be a few staff who will help you there. Don't worry."

Hao Ming Yu raises his head and looks at Huang Yuze. He nods and smiles at him, grateful for his words of explanation. Jin Liwei huffs and rolls his eyes. Huang Yuze left a minute later. Hao Ming Yu followed behind Jin Liwei obediently.

He is still quite traumatised around men, but somehow with Jin Liwei, he didn't feel as uncomfortable as he did with other men. Hao Ming Yu also didn't know why, maybe because Jin Liwei treated him like others, which was rude and sarcastic. Not trying to act friendly with him. Or maybe because Jin Liwei didn't exude any dangerous vibes despite his poker face and sharp eyes.

Another incident that increases Jin Liwei's point in Hao Ming Yu's eyes happened when boarding the plane. Hao Ming Yu didn't want to put his backpack in the overhead compartment, so he put it on his lap.

Jin Liwei saw this and said, "Just put your bag here." The middle seat between Hao Ming Yu and Jin Liwei is empty. Hao Ming Yu sits near the window, and Jin Liwei is beside the walkway.

"Don't worry. I bought all three seats so no one will sit here. Just put your bag here. No need to hold it all the time."

From there, he knew that Jin Liwei purposely bought all three seats so Hao Ming Yu would have more space, and they didn't need to sit too close to each other, which would trigger his trauma. Hao Ming Yu thought he might be overthinking, but Jin Liwei never stood too close to him when he recalled their time together.

Jin Liwei is not some kind of OCD man who cannot stand being near other people. Hao Ming Yu had seen him close with others, but only with him; Jin Liwei put a distance between them.

From the corner of his eyes, Hao Ming Yu steals a glance at the handsome man beside him. He guesses that maybe because of this, for the first time, he didn't feel uncomfortable with someone other than his family and his two best friends.

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