Tit For Tat (Beloved Enemy) - Chap 75
Beloved Enemy Chapter 75
FEBRUARY 17, 2019 ~ ROSYSPELL
The so-called internal company forum is actually an OA office system. Each official employee in the company has an account number. They can upload and download files into the system. There is also a small dialogue platform, much simpler than a QQ group, but most the employees will not chat on the OA system, instead use it mostly for work related purposes.
GuQingPei had never been on this system. Important documents were directly handed to him. He flipped through his notebook for a long time before he could find the account and password that Zhang Xia had created for him.
After he got online, he discovered that the number of people online today was unprecedentedly high. Very soon, a new email alert popped up. The subject of the email was called “GuQingPei.” GuQingPei’s heart shuddered. Not knowing why, he opened it.
The message contained a few photos.
The light was dim and the backdrop appeared to be a guest room in a hotel. GuQingPei saw his face in these few fuzzy photos.
The blood in his body instantly froze.
He will not forget this hotel. It was from that night in Hangzhou. It was at a time when he and YuanYang were butting head to head, when they were unable to tolerate each other. They were on a business trip. It was in this hotel that YuanYang had instructed the duck (male prostitute) to give him an aphrodisiac drug, and then….
There were only four or five photos in the email and it was not considered to be sexually explicit. At least YuanYang’s face and body was entirely concealed and the photos were only taken from above the waist. Though it was just a few photos, it was clear enough for people to see that this is a series of sex photos. Not only that, the person that he is having sex with is clearly a male. He looked at his 30 plus years face in the mirror, so familiar, yet so strange appearing in front of him. In these photos, his face is completely flushed red, full of perspiration, his expression confused, clearly looking drunk. Other people looking at these photos would surely think that he is drunk, only he knew that he was drugged.
GuQingPei’s head is constantly buzzing; his eyes repeatedly lost focus. Then he concentrated on these photos that is ruthlessly penetrating his eyes. They look blurred and cleared, yet clear and fuzzy, repeatedly disrupting his focus.
This is a mass mailing. Every employee in the company can see it in their own mailbox. He finally understood why Zhang Xia’s voice is full of panic and embarrassment. That is because everyone in the company, on a night where nothing specific is happening, they suddenly received an explosive gift, seeing pictures of their president passionately tangled with a man.
GuQingPei can hardly tell whether he is in reality or is having a nightmare.
He is a person, who even as child never fell behind other people and intensely cared about his reputation. When he was in school, he was always the top student. When he was working, he was always the best employee. He was an exceedingly hard-working person, rarely anyone can be compared to him. He studied and worked very hard because he refused to accept defeat. He grew up surrounded with praises from those around him. His abnormal sexual orientation is probably the only deficiency in his life. But he has no choice other than to accept this reality. However, this does not mean that he can tolerate everyone knowing his deepest, darkest secret. Not only that, but for it to be exposed in such shameful way, making him lost all his prestige.
He felt like he had been furiously slapped by the public a few times. Every one of those pictures of him showed his humiliation and shamefulness. GuQingPei has fought for many years in this materialistic business world, having experienced all kinds of injustices and setbacks. Every single time, he had kept a straight face and got back up. But only this time, he has the kind of humiliation of someone tearing his face off. His pride and dignity have been thoroughly ruined by these few photos. From now on, how can he, GuQingPei, face his friends, his colleagues?
He almost bled from his teeth biting.
He didn’t have to think too much about it and knew who the culprit is. To thoroughly protect YuanYang in concealing him so completely, yet publicly shaming him, the only person that could have such animosity toward him, besides YuanLiJiang, there is no other.
He underestimated YuanLiJiang.
He thought that YuanLiJiang would only attack his career, so he naively thought of avoiding this by starting in another place.
Unexpectedly, he didn’t expect YuanLiJiang to destroy him like this.
How can he even imagine that such photos even exist at such time! These photos! The pixels are extremely blurry and the shooting angles are all the same. Obviously, they are from a video. When he thought of everything that happened that night, and that there is possibly an entire length in a video, GuQingPei started to tremble in fear, his entire body shivered.
Is this a warning from YuanLiJiang?
GuQingPei only felt that his entire body is cold. He could barely move in his chair.
Why is there such a video? Who recorded it? Who is it?!
The answer is obvious. GuQingPei closed his eyes, painfully not wanting to acknowledge that it is YuanYang.
He stood up and staggered into the bathroom, splashing his face with cold water. His face tingled slightly. He looked up and sees his pale face in the mirror. The image in front of him unconsciously is the same facial expression in some of those lustful sex photos.
GuQingPei raised his fist and violently smashed it into the mirror. The exquisitely hand-crafted frame vibrated violently. The mirror cracked from the center, expanding out and pieces of it crashed onto the sink below.
GuQingPei looked at the blood in his hands and stood stiffly for a long time.
Until he heard the sound of the door being opened.
YuanYang came in with a big bag of stuff, “Fuck, so cold outside. I’m right in not letting you go out, you’re not the least bit resistant to cold.”
GuQingPei only felt his blood flowing backwards. Clenching his fists, drops of blood fell to the side of his feet, but he couldn’t feel the pain.
A certain part of his body hurt a thousand times more than his hand.
YuanYang didn’t hear anything in the room so he put his stuff down and walked in “Where is he?”
He went to look in the bathroom and was shocked by the sight.
GuQingPei’s blood was dripping from his fists, looking at him coldly. The mirror pieces shattered on the ground, and everything looked so abnormal.
YuanYang’s heartbeat jumped wildly, “What’s going on? Did you break the mirror? Your hand…..”
GuQingPei opened his mouth automatically, “That night in Hangzhou, you recorded a video, right?”
Hearing this, YuanYang felt like he was struck by lightning, frozen on the spot.
“Am I right?” GuQingPei look intently into YuanYang’s eyes.
“You….. How did you know?”
GuQingPei coldly retorted, “I found out too late.”
“You, how did you know? Who told you?!” YuanYang’s face is livid seeing GuQingPei’s coldly indifference expression. His heart is completely cold.
“How do I know?” GuQingPei sarcastically smiled, “I saw it in the company’s group email. This is so interesting. As one of the male protagonists of that video, I actually found out about it after the company’s employees.” GuQingPei gritted his teeth as he finished saying those last few words, his expression looked like he couldn’t wait to swallow YuanYang.
YuanYang had never felt so scared…never.
He clearly saw the hatred and resentment in GuQingPei’s eyes. The anger of being thoroughly humiliated was so strong; so much that YuanYang could feel what GuQingPei’s mood is at this very moment.
GuQingPei is a man who cares immensely about having face….
He often teased GuQingPei for living so superficially, but he knows everyone is different. GuQingPei enjoys success, enjoys superiority, and enjoys being admired. This is an affirmation for a man. The glory above ten thousand is what the vast majority of male creatures in the world pursue for their entire lives.
GuQingPei appreciates his own gains. There is nothing wrong with that. YuanYang had always known that GuQingPei cared a lot about his reputation and status. So when LiuQiang stole his laptop, he was very worried and consumed with rage. When he found LiuQiang, he had the attitude that even if he had to kill this person, he needed to get the video back. He was afraid that if the video was made public, GuQingPei would not be able to bear it, and furthermore, would hate him.
YuanYang is on the verge of collapsing. He couldn’t accept that he had tirelessly ran around trying so hard to prevent this from happening, yet what he feared the most really happened. Moreover, GuQingPei’s naked body…… he could not wait to dig out the eyes of all those who saw it!
He rushed into GuQingPei’s study room. The laptop was still on. At a glance, he saw the offensive photos in the email, only he himself was covered up, but GuQingPei’s face was clearly visible.
It’s his dad, his dad did it!
YuanYang quickly ran back into bathroom and grabbed onto GuQingPei’s shoulders, shouting incoherently, “GuQingPei, I recorded that video, but I never thought about sharing it, I never thought of letting others see you. I…. let me explain.”
GuQingPei lightly raised the corners of his mouth, “Oh, then how did it get into everyone’s mailbox in the company?”
“It’s LiuQiang! Did you remember when your house was burglarized last time? He stole my laptop. He had originally wanted to steal some trade secrets on there to force us to withdraw their complaints, but unexpectedly found this video.”
“LiuQiang? If it was LiuQiang, then why are you the only one covered up?” GuQingPei narrowed his eyes at him, “He must really feel bad for you.”
YuanYang lips trembled. He is speechless.
“Let me help explain this. LiuQiang got this video, but it would be very stupid of him to threaten me because he knows I can’t withdraw the lawsuit. It was YuanLiJiang who really got him. Having this video of YuanLiJiang’s son, a video that can’t be exposed, now he can stir up troubles. So naturally, he sent the video to YuanLiJiang. I thought it was strange at the time. Everything was going so well, how did YuanLiJiang suddenly found out about us? This exposure method is really intuitive.”
YuanYang’s bloodshot eyes stared at GuQingPei. The chilliness permeating from GuQingPei and his hateful temperament painfully stabbed him throughout his body.
GuQingPei gritted his teeth and added, “Now that LiuQiang’s threat had likely been resolved, the video had fallen into YuanLiJiang’s hands. Exposing these few photos was just a little warning. If I still don’t know my limits, it wouldn’t simply just be having my face revealed in these photos. Am I right? Young Master Yuan!!?”
YuanYang’s voice shivered, “GuQingPei, I am sorry to you with this matter; I thought that I could stop LiuQiang. I stopped LiuQiang but never thought that my dad would… Don’t look at me with that kind of expression, GuQingPei, don’t look at me like that.”
“Why did you record this at the time? You have so many chances to tell me about it. Why didn’t you tell me!?” GuQingPei hatefully shoved him and stretched his hands out to fiercely slap him twice. Enraged he shouted, “Why didn’t you fucking tell me! I had to find out after my secretary called to let me know that I’ve fucking been in some sex photos! How can I, GuQingPei, have the face to walk out this door from now on?!”
YuanYang instantly embraced GuQingPei, feeling pained, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, don’t hate me! Don’t hate me!”
The more GuQingPei desperately wanted to push him away, the more fearful YuanYang became, needing to hold him tighter.
“Let me go! YuanYang! Fucking let me go!”
“Don’t hate me! GuQingPei, Don’t hate me,” YuanYang could only repeatedly say this one phrase. He has been deeply and hurtfully stabbed by GuQingPei’s hostility.
“I still remember what you said that night. You said that there would be no good end for me in going against you. You said that I shouldn’t provoke you. I will regret it. I fucking regret it now. I give up. I can’t fight against you Young Master Yuan. I admit defeat okay? You fucking get far away from me. Don’t fucking show up in front of me again. Let me go!”
YuanYang’s nostrils flared, his eyes teary, “All that is in the past. I really like you now. Even if someone was to kill me, I would not have wanted that video to be exposed. I had only wanted to just keep it secretly for myself. I didn’t dare tell you because I know that you will get angry…. I’m very sorry. You can scold and beat me however way you want, but you can’t hate me.”
GuQingPei struggled for a long time, but still couldn’t free himself from YuanYang’s hold. In a lowly voice, “Let me go.”
YuanYang, who is about 1.9 M tall, is like a child lightly bending his waist, hugging GuQingPei tightly, unwilling to let go, sniffling his nose, still repeating the words in his heart, “Don’t hate me.”
GuQingPei’s entire body is chillingly cold. He was already overwhelmed with tremendous pressure and worries. He didn’t know what would happen tomorrow and what he would face. At this moment, he didn’t even want to say a word to YuanYang.
Slowly and persistently, he pushed YuanYang away, “Just leave. I don’t want to see you right now.”
YuanYang wiped his face, looking devastated, “I won’t leave. I have to see you.”
“Get the fuck out of my house.” GuQingPei looked at him coldly, “You said how you will be good to me but you can’t even deal with your own family’s problems. You still have the face to stand here?”
YuanYang’s face is burning, bursting with anger. He clenched his fist tightly. He has never had this much resentment toward his father. He couldn’t believe that his dad will use such a cruel method to force GuQingPei and him to sever from within themselves.
He faintly muttered, “I’m going to go back to look for my dad. You don’t go home (referring to his parent’s home), wait for me here, okay? Well, you can go home; I’ll go there to look for you…” YuanYang raised his head; his eyes were covered with a layer of sadness.
GuQingPei looked down and pointed at the door, “Fucking go.”
YuanYang gritted his teeth, but still left. He needed to go find his dad right now. He finally understood, if he doesn’t make his dad leave them alone, he and GuQingPei will never get peace in their lives.
GuQingPei is right. He can’t even solve his own family’s problems, how can he say that he will be good to GuQingPei. He is not a man!
YuanYang left feeling vicious and broken-hearted.
GuQingPei sat on the couch, looking at his bloodied hand, his eyes in agony, with tears almost falling.
He held his head hoping to get a sense of security from this position.
Using the Chinese method for assessing age, he would already be 34 years old. He had thought that most of his setbacks and tribulations would have been left in his early years when he was struggle during his prime. Not expecting that at this age, at an age where he had achieved a level of wealth and personal accomplishment, that he will be faced with what can be said as his life’s greatest crisis.
This crisis was not just relating to pictures of him having sex with a man being exposed to everyone. But also comprised of him in a relationship that should not have been started.
What he could not bear was that he had reached this age and actually made such a foolish mistake.
How could he be so stupid?
It is all good now. He had no idea how these few light fluttering photos will impact him. In the past, he would forge ahead when faced with any kind of difficulties, but at this moment, he wanted to escape.
Because this setback is not like anything in his past, the crisis this time made him lose all his prestige, completely destroying his reputation, leaving him uncertain on how to face these familiar faces.
For the first time, he had the impulse to escape.
This is a really brilliant move from YuanLiJiang. Realizing that the two of them were inseparable no matter what, he no longer forced him to leave, nor did he force YuanYang to give up (in this relationship). But instead, just by using these few vague blurry pictures, he had created an irreparable rift between the two of them.
GuQingPei knew that he had fell in into a big trap, but he can only brace himself and put on a bold face.
Because it was impossible for him to not blame YuanYang in this, the anxiety and panic that he felt at this time already made him wished he had never known him.
At this point, he didn’t know what else will happen. The worst case scenario, — is if his parents find out about this — he really didn’t dare to think about it. They are honest and simple people. To live honorably and genuinely is the biggest principles in life. His parents have been school educators all their lives. If they found out that their son, whom they have always been intensely proud of, have done something so disgracefully shameful; at more than 60 years old, how could they withstand such a blow?
GuQingPei really wants this moment to disappear.
He didn’t know how long he sat in the living room, but his body had become rigid. Picking up his phone, he called Zhang Xia back.
It was until he heard the drowsiness sound from the other line that he suddenly realized it was already four in the early morning.
His voice husky, “Xiao Zhang, sorry, I forgot to look at the time.”
Zhang Xia’s voice quickly calmed, “Director Gu, it’s all right. I actually can’t sleep,” she said sadly, “Director Gu, listen to me. I’m just going to say this. I’m not sure what this person’s hidden intent is in harming you in such a way, but regardless of your sexuality, this has nothing to do with your personal character or your work competency. We have agreed to not leak this out; everyone is going to act as if this never happened…”
“Xiao Zhang.” GuQingPei said softly, “Thank you, really thank you. But it would be impossible for this to not leak out. Since this has been sent to each employee’s mailbox, it can also be sent anywhere else. Don’t worry about me. This little storm won’t bring me down. Right now, I need you to help me with something, can I?”
Zhang Xia swallowed and replied, “Say it.”
“When you get to the company, help me get all the necessary resignation documents ready, personnel, financial, administrative, and also help me write my resignation letter to the Board of Directors. Get it ready, and then bring it to me tomorrow. The sooner the better, can you do that?”
“Director Gu,” Zhang Xia suddenly burst into tears.
Although she will soon become a mother, every women’s heart have a vision of how a perfect man should be. GuQingPei is the object of admiration for all the company’s women. These photos have utterly humiliated GuQingPei, who is such a proud and arrogant man. This has already broken their hearts, not to mention for the actual parties involved. When Zhang Xia heard of GuQingPei’s resignation, she couldn’t control her tears.
GuQingPei’s voice was calm as water, just like his gentle and charming nature when he is smiling and calling her “silly girl.” “Don’t cry. I’m not resigning because of this. In fact, I already had planned to do this. It’s for better personal development. This happening just gave me that opportunity. It’s really inappropriate for me to leading at this time. Chairman Yuan will find a more suitable executive to guide you all in achieving your goals. Don’t cry silly girl. Your baby will be born next month, don’t scare the little one.” GuQingPei could hear Zhang Xia’s husband also trying to comfort her on the side. His heart felt a little sorrow and a bit touched.
Zhang Xia agreed to get all the resignation documents ready and told him that she’ll bring it to him first thing in the morning, then sobbingly hung up.
GuQingPei stood up. He pulled out a suitcase from his bedroom and started to pack some seasonal clothes.
He packed for a long time. Suddenly, he realized that the suitcase is full of winter clothes. It was taking too much space, just two jackets and it was almost packed.
He stood up and looked at the suitcase, then grabbed the suitcase and dumped out all the clothes that he had packed and started to put in summer clothes.
He had booked a honeymoon suite for a week in Saipan. Originally it was going to be his and YuanYang’s vacation. Now counting tomorrow is the last day. If he flies there after signing the resignation documents tomorrow, he can still stay a night so it won’t be a complete waste.
Is a vacation for one person still considered a vacation?
