Tit For Tat (Beloved Enemy) - Chap 47
GuQingPei did not go to the company for a week. When he entered his office, he saw a thick stack of documents waiting for his signature. He sent YuanYang to follow the chief executive to initiate negotiations for a Merger & Acquisitions project while he stayed behind to handle some administrative matters.
Seeing that it is coming to the end of the year and having been in the company for more than four months, he wanted to plan a large-scale end of the year celebratory conference. In addition to summing up his work efforts for the past four months, it is also the best time to motivate and reward the employees.
He discussed this with YuanLiJiang and planned on hosting it in warmer places, such as Yunnan or Hainan at the end of the year so that the company’s employees can also relax.
He was talking to the chief executive about the year-end event when his cell phone suddenly rang.
Picking up his phone to look, it was WangJin. Connecting the call, he answered smiling, “Chairman Wang, hello.”
WangJin’s voice is graceful and pleasant to hear, “Director Gu has not forgotten me yet.”
“How could I dare?”
“Then how come you haven’t even given me a call? I’ve been waiting for Director Gu to treat me (for a meal).”
“Haha, younger brother, I, have been a little busy recently. I have long wanted to find an opportune time to invite Chairman Wang for a meal, but couldn’t find the time. You know, it’s the end of the year, I’m especially afraid to bother you.”
WangJin smiled and responded, “As long as it is Director Gu who invited me, no matter how busy I am, I will find the time.”
GuQingPei smiled, “Then, I’m going to brazenly invite you. How about it, when would Chairman Wang have time?”
“How about tonight? The last two days has all been social dinners, it’s a little too heavy. How about we go to eat some light vegetarian food?”
“That’s fine,” GuQingPei looked at his watch, “Chairman Wang, send me the address. After I take care of the matters at hand, I’ll head out immediately.”
GuQingPei briefed the chief executive on the work that needed to be done and then called for the driver Old Zhao to take him to the restaurant.
After entering the reserved room, GuQingPei was stunned.
He thought that WangJin would be inviting other executives. This kind of people normally won’t meet to just have a meal, but to exchange information and seek opportunities for cooperation.
But in the reserved room, there is only WangJin himself.
“Director Gu, you got here early,” WangJin stood up from the sofa. With his tall stature and a deep and graceful voice, his presence is very impressive. He is quite an attractive man.
GuQingPei walked with a smile and shook his hands, “Sorry to have Chairman Wang wait.” He looked around, “Is it just the two of us today?”
“Yeah, just us,” WangJin generously spread out his hand, “Who else are you expecting to join us?”
GuQingPei softly laughed, “I can’t afford for Chairman Wang to give me such honor, how dare I expect others.”
WangJin patted his back, “Come, have a sit. Oh, where is Young Master Yuan? He didn’t come with you?”
“He has other things to attend to.”
WangJin let out a long “oh” sound.
Both of them sat down.
WangJin expressed “I’ve already ordered the food. It’s not bad here except that they are slow to serve the food. We can just talk as we wait.”
“No hurry, I am not hungry.”
WangJin took out the project proposal that GuQingPei sent him last time, “I’ve already looked over this and have discussed it with one of my deputies. This project is indeed really good, with high profit margins and I’m especially interested in your proposal of constructing lavished villas.”
“This is Chairman Yuan’s proposition to attract the ultra-high-end guests.”
“This concept is very good. I have also looked at your blueprints. My background is on blueprints, it’s just an old habit of mine to look. I think there are some flaws in the concept proposal that could be improved, but it’s not bad overall. The most critical issue of this project is the risk involved. After all, this more than two thousand acres of land is still forestry. To degenerate such a large area is going to take a lot of effort. What is the progress on that?”
GuQingPei smiled and outlined the progress of their recent work to WangJin. He is assertive in the feasibility of this land transmutation. This self-confidence quickly influenced WangJin.
As GuQingPei was talking about this incessantly, WangJin has a warming smile on his face and from time to time would make some suggestions and ideas.
The two of them discussed hypothetically. They have similar insights with their ideas on many things; adding on to their broaden knowledge; there was almost no barriers to their communication.
It is really not easy to meet someone who can speak the same common language(t/n).
T/N – this is referring to them being able to talk to someone who thinks alike, with common minds, ideas and knowledge.
After half an hour, the food dishes were brought out one after the other. GuQingPei smiled, “I was just talking and the foods have arrived. Chairman Wang, let’s eat.”
WangJin poured a cup of tea for GuQingPei, “Don’t address me as Chairman Wang, call me Wang Ge.”
GuQingPei smiled, “Then, I’m not going to hesitate, Wang Ge.”
WangJin looked at him, his eyes deep, “QingPei, I’m really fortunate to have met a friend who I can really talk to. I feel that we have a lot in common.”
GuQingPei nodded, “Chatting with Wang Ge, I also feel that I have a lot to gain.”
WangJin clasp a piece of vegetable onto this bowl, “Taste this. This burdock(t/n) is especially flavorful. Typical homes can’t make this.”
T/N: Burdock is a wild, edible, nutritious plant and is considered and aphrodisiac. It is also used for its therapeutic functions. Traditional medicines, particularly in Asia, use it as a diuretic, sudorific, purifying the blood, antiarthritic and even in skin diseases.
Aphrodisiac burdock
burdock
GuQingPei laughed, “This thing is good. It’s good for men.”
WangJin vaguely smiled and uttered, “Yeah, eat more.” He paused, “What does Director Gu usually do for fun? Do you want to go to the night club tonight?”
GuQingPei was most afraid of hearing this kind of question before. Not because he doesn’t like entertainment, but because he really is not interested in women. Going to these places with the executives; he has to pretend that he’s interested in women or it would dampen people’s mood. Fortunately in the last two years, he’s conceived a speech that he would use usually to refuse such offering when he sees it coming, “Aigh, I’m just really busy, it’s really helpless. Wait till after the year. After the year, I’ll treat Chairman Wang out to relax.”
WangJin smiled, “I am not pretending to be virtuous. To tell you the truth, I usually don’t like to go to those places. If I need to find someone, they can be found everywhere. Why bother to go to these smoky places to breathe in second-hand smoke.”
“Wang Ge is right, I also don’t like it. The air is too bad and it’s noisy.”
WangJin took a sip of his wine, “And, the life of debauchery at such places is meaningless to me. I like a calm and simple life, having a companion who I can talk to. I don’t need much, just one person is enough.”
GuQingPei slightly wrinkled his brows, his mind clearer.
Strange, how did the topic get to this? He and WangJin are not familiar with each other to the degree of talking about love? There is a hint of alertness in his heart.
WangJin squinted his eyes, his narrow phoenix eyes(t/n) looking particularly good, “I heard that Director Gu is divorced? Then, you should understand my feelings.”
T/N: Phoenix eyes, A kind of eye shape that inner eye corner pointing to the ground and outer eye corner to the sky. A man with this kind of eye shape is usually considered as loyal, righteous.
phonex eyes
GuQingPei is most reluctant to discuss his marriage with others, but being directly asked, he has no choice but to respond, so he merely muttered, “Does Wang Ge have some relationship problems? You can tell this younger brother?”
WangJin looked up and smiled at him, lowering his voice and said, “Do you really want to know?”
GuQingPei smiled kindly, “I’m willing to help Wang Ge share your worries.” Even though he hope that WangJin would quickly shut up. He had only wanted to reap in some money from WangJin’s pockets and not dwell on this mental journey.
WangJin smiled as he drank. Suddenly, he leaned closer to GuQingPei and said into this ear, “QingPei, if I tell you that I like men, do you believe it?”
GuQingPei is quite surprised, but he remained calm and collected on the surface.
This kind of undisguised flirting actually feels good, especially when the other person is the youthful, talented, wealthy and attractive WangJin. However, once he responds, the price would be him exposing his sexual orientation, which doesn’t seem to be worth it.
GuQingPei slightly retreats and smiles, “What kind of joke is this, Wang Ge?”
WangJin shrugged, “I am not joking. Are you surprised?”
“I am. Doesn’t Wang Ge have children?”
“Aren’t you married before, too?”
GuQingPei opened his mouth, his heart feeling frightened. This is dangerous territory. WangJin almost made him spit out the truth. This person’s mind is very perceptive…..
GuQingPei regained his calmness and smiled, “My ex-wife and I don’t get along so this was inevitable.”
“QingPei, you’re not telling Wang Ge the truth,” WangJin looked at him, his eyes penetrating, “From the first time I saw you, I felt that you are different. You are very attractive. The way you look at me, it made me feel close to you.” WangJin blinked, “Are you not even a bit interested in me?”
Pretending to be confused in front of person who knows is meaningless, so GuQingPei simply did not pretend, half-joking half-seriously, “Wang Ge, to tell you the truth, your type is ideal but there are some things that is not appropriate to happen. Do you understand what I mean?”
WangJin fixatedly looked at him for a few seconds, then smiled, “I understand. Today, I just want you to know that I am very fond of you but you don’t have to bear the burden. I’m already at this age; I won’t force you to do anything.”
“Wang Ge is an understanding person. You can be rest assured that nobody will know about today’s matters.”
WangJin nodded, “Come on, eat or it’ll be cold.”
The two did not mention this topic afterwards and just talked about irrelevant things like gossip and market conditions.
Right after he finished eating, GuQingPei’s cell phone rang; it was from YuanYang,
GuQingPei answered, “Hey?”
“Where are you?”
“Eating out.”
“Need me to pick you up?”
“No, I have Old Zhao (driver) with me.”
“Okay then, come back soon.”
GuQingPei put the phone tightly close to his ear for fear of being heard by WangJin, “Okay, I know, I will talk to you tomorrow.” After saying that, he quickly hung up.
WangJin glanced at him, “Could that be Young Master Yuan?”
GuQingPei automatically responded, “Oh, yes, he is now my full-time driver, quite responsible.”
WangJin’s eyes flashed, but didn’t say anything.
After the meal, the two went to the parking lot in the back of the yard.
WangJin drove by himself. GuQingPei planned on sending him off before calling for Old Zhao. Old Zhao probably went somewhere to eat.
The parking lot is a little dark, very quiet and there was no one in sight. The business here doesn’t look very good. Most people would come here just to try it but wouldn’t come back to eat often.
Walking WangJin to the side of his car, the two people shook hands, GuQingPei smiled, “Wang Ge, are you going to be okay driving after drinking the wine?”
“No problem, I didn’t drink that much.”
“That’s good, drive carefully.” GuQingPei wanted to pull his hand back but WangJin held onto it.
GuQingPei looked at him patiently.
WangJin suddenly grabbed his waist turning his body around and pressed him to the car.
GuQingPei’s eyes flashed a trace of astonishment, but he restrained himself from reacting.
WangJin is tightly close to him, his breathing a little heavy as he voiced, “QingPei, do you know that you are especially captivating?”
GuQingPei smiled, “I have a general idea.” From a young age till now, he has never lacked pursuers, but none is like YuanYang, daring to use such savage means to deal with him. GuQingPei did not know why he would think of YuanYang at this time. His heart felt a bit unusual.
WangJin’s fingers slowly moved to his face and took off his glasses.
The two of them look directly at each other, competing to see who will be unable to endure it first.
WangJin moved close and gently touched GuQingPei’s lips, “QingPei, be with me. Let’s give it a try?”
This ambiguousness is especially temping.
If it was before, GuQingPei felt that he really could not find a reason to refuse a man like WangJin. But now, he has a little wolf dog at home that could easily bite anyone. If he really brings back another, he’s afraid that the trouble would be immense.
GuQingPei slowly pulled back his glasses and put them back on. Then, he pushed WangJin away and sincerely uttered, “Wang Ge, between us, there are too many things that we need to be cautious of. For me to pick someone up from the bar, it’s not a lot of trouble or effort, but if I’m with you, I can’t predict the consequences. We are both smart people, so let’s end this here.”
The disappointment in WangJin’s eyes is hard to conceal.
GuQingPei smiled as he nodded his head, walking away casually as if nothing had happened.
WangJin’s hand held the car’s door as he sighed. He looked at GuQingPei’s slender figure, unable to hide the desires in his eyes.
End of the chapter
