BL Ch35

At eleven o’clock in the morning, most of the companies in Huixin Technology Park were just beginning their lunch break.

This park is well-known, not only in the Xinjing District but also throughout the entire city of Pingyi. For nearly two decades, the municipal government has been actively developing high-tech industries, attracting talent with a series of beneficial policies. As a result, many strong domestic and international tech companies have set up branches or started new projects here.

There are some startup companies, but most of them quietly retreat after burning through their first round of funding. Developing technology isn’t like setting up a street stall to sell fried pancakes—it’s not low-cost with guaranteed returns that can at least feed you. The initial R&D phase is essentially about burning money—spending millions might not even create the slightest ripple.

Innovation and invention have always been the domain of geniuses throughout history.

It’s also a means for some wealthy heirs, with too much money to spend, to beautify their business cards. “Chairman of XX Technology Co., Ltd.” definitely sounds more impressive than “VIP member of XX Private Club.”

The park has its fair share of prodigies, like those who completed their undergraduate studies at Tsinghua or Peking University by the age of eighteen, as well as foolish wealthy heirs who invested millions into projects like “pet language translation machines.” But a prodigy heir who embodies both of these traits? Out of the 2,547 registered companies in the park, only one stands out.

A grand Pullman drove into the gates of Huixin Technology Park. The security guard nervously watched the rising barrier, terrified of scratching this luxury car that he couldn’t afford even in ten lifetimes.

Two office workers, who had just picked up their takeout, instinctively kept a distance, but couldn’t resist their curiosity and craned their necks to peer into the darkly tinted windows.

“Such an extravagant car—could it be that overbearing CEO from the trending news?”

“Probably. I bet the inside is full of beautiful women.”

“Haven’t you read the exposé on him? He likes men!”

“Then I guess the car is full of handsome men—one pouring him wine, one giving him a massage, and another one in his arms…”

Yu Duqiu indeed wanted to hold a handsome man, but unfortunately, the only man worthy of that title in the car was sitting upright, his handsome face expressionless, seemingly without any worldly desires.

Bai Zhao’s newly tailored suit shirt was a bit small, his muscular frame stretching the fabric taut, especially around the chest where the buttons looked ready to pop off at any moment.

Zhou Yi, who was used to being a father figure, quickly noticed the younger man’s discomfort and kindly suggested, “Young Master, it seems like Bai Zhao’s suit doesn’t fit well. Should we have Chen Kuan make some alterations?”

Yu Duqiu didn’t respond, but Bai Zhao answered first, “No need. He did it on purpose.”

Zhou Yi: “Huh?”

Yu Duqiu admired the overwhelming display of muscles with satisfaction. “Relax, I also had a normal-sized one made for him. It’ll arrive in a couple of days. He can make do with this for now.”

“Oh…” Zhou Yi, a long-time single man, couldn’t help but feel the generational gap as he witnessed the flirtatious tactics of these youngsters. Embarrassed, he quietly withdrew from the conversation.

The Pullman slowly came to a stop in front of Building C in the tech park.

Unlike other office buildings that housed dozens of companies, this building had only one tenant, with strict security measures in place. Visitors needed to pass through a security check at the office first. The security guards weren’t the elderly men with thermoses earning minimum wage; they were all strong young men.

Yu Duqiu had given advance notice, so the chief secretary was already waiting downstairs. She was a young woman named Yuan Li, around the same age as Lu Qing, who had recently joined the company two months ago. She was both competent and attractive, with short, professional hair and a dark business suit that highlighted her graceful figure. Du Lingya certainly had reason to be cautious of her.

Unfortunately, the boss’s gaze lingered mostly on the security guard.

Yuan Li, bold as she was, noticed the boss hadn’t moved and lightly coughed to prompt him, “President Yu, the department managers are waiting for you in the conference room.”

“Hmm? Who said I was going to a meeting?” Yu Duqiu replied, before turning his attention to a nearby young, handsome security guard—shorter than him by a head, with a distinctly Korean look: single eyelids and large, round dark eyes. His individual features weren’t particularly striking, but together they formed a pleasant appearance.

The security guard seemed flustered under his gaze, shyly meeting his eyes for a moment before quickly lowering his head.

He didn’t seem entirely disinterested.

Zhou Yi and Lou Baoguo were already used to it—Yu Duqiu never hesitated to make a move on someone he fancied, regardless of time or place. However, a certain new colleague’s face darkened rapidly.

Lou Baoguo nudged Zhou Yi with his lips: “Watch out, the jealousy pot is spilling again.”

Zhou Yi shot him a look in return: “Got it. Guarding against fire, theft, and colleagues is exhausting.”

Yu Duqiu appeared completely oblivious to the dangerous glares from behind and walked straight toward the security guard. He bent down to get a closer look at his face and asked gently, “Are you new?”

The security guard nodded quickly, like a pecking chicken, and didn’t back away.

Yu Duqiu chuckled without understanding why, suddenly tilting the guard’s chin up without warning and, without saying a word, kissed him on the cheek.

“…………”

Zhou Yi covered his eyes, speechless. Lou Baoguo looked up at the sky, while Yuan Li’s mouth twitched.

Bai Zhao did nothing, quietly staring at the back of Yu Duqiu’s head.

The security guard was dumbfounded. He instinctively frowned but didn’t push away this boss who had just sexually harassed him in public, murmuring softly, “President Yu, please don’t…”

It had a bit of a “reluctantly accepting” vibe.

Yu Duqiu lightly patted his face, his smile deepening as if pleased with the response. He then let go and suddenly called out, “Baoguo.”

Lou Baoguo immediately stood up straight. “Yes!”

“Do you like sweet and sour pork?”

The sudden question left the young security guard confused. He wasn’t sure if Yu Duqiu was asking him or someone else, and as he hesitated over whether to reply with “I actually prefer braised pork,” a large shadow approached him rapidly out of the corner of his eye.

Before he could react, a heavy blow struck his chest, making him feel like a giant bell in a temple hit by a massive wooden beam. His feet left the ground, and his entire body was sent flying from the powerful impact. He hung in midair for a full second before crashing to the marble floor, his back slamming into the ground. His internal organs violently shook, and his bones ached as if shattered. He nearly spat blood.

The human tank, Lou Baoguo, was startled. “Oh no! Buddy, you okay? You looked pretty solid, how are you this weak?”

The young security guard on the ground tried to move his neck but had no strength to get up. In the end, he blacked out.

Lou Baoguo, feeling bad, said, “It’s been so long since I’ve heard the signal. Got a bit too excited and overdid it. Sorry, young master.”

Bai Zhao, listening, pieced together the meaning of the “signal” from his own previous experience—Yu Duqiu would say something unexpected to distract everyone, and only the person attuned to the signal knew it was time to subdue whoever Yu Duqiu was talking to.

Not only did it divert the enemy’s attention, but it also allowed for a plan to unfold right in front of them. The enemy might not even realize how they were taken down until it was too late.

Everyone looked at the unconscious security guard with pity. It was hard to tell who the real danger was.

“Wake him up and take him to my office,” Yu Duqiu ordered Yuan Li, his expression suddenly turning icy. “Who hired someone without my approval?”

Yuan Li, still reeling from the visual shock of what had just happened, shuddered at the question, afraid she might be the next one on the floor. She hurried to protect herself: “It wasn’t me. It was the HR department…”

“Tell the HR manager to meet me in my office. And bring Zhao Feihua.”

“What about the people in the conference room?”

“Dismiss them. Don’t try to be clever in the future.”

“Understood…” Yuan Li quickly noted the three tasks, not daring to be careless.

Yu Duqiu walked into the lobby, while Lou Baoguo easily lifted the unconscious security guard and followed behind, asking curiously, “Young master, how did you know something was off with him?”

Yu Duqiu replied as he walked, “First, I’ve never seen his face before, so he must be new, but HR never informed me about him. Second, he kept staring at me from the moment I entered, his gaze too eager, clearly trying to catch my attention. I found it odd, and when I tested him, he reacted exactly as expected.”

Lou Baoguo was still confused. “What was off about him?”

“He clearly disliked my advances, yet pretended to be shy and innocent. His act wasn’t convincing,” Yu Duqiu explained, glancing at the man beside him who looked displeased. His expression softened into a smile. “He should learn from you—you at least know how to act convincingly.”

Bai Zhao gave him a sideways glance. “Did your test really need an actual kiss?”

Yu Duqiu shamelessly replied, “No, I just wanted to take advantage of him.”

“……”

Yu Duqiu pushed further. “You didn’t seem to react much. Does that mean you’re fine with me kissing other people? How about going to bed with them? You can watch and learn. That way, when it’s your turn, you won’t be clueless.”

Lou Baoguo, still carrying the unconscious man, couldn’t free his hands, so he quickly said to Zhou Yi, “Old Zhou, be ready. I think our boss looks like he’s about to strangle the young master.”

It turned out that anyone pursuing Yu Duqiu needed nerves of steel. Even hearing the most morally bankrupt things, they could remain unruffled. Bai Zhao was a step above, able to retort back, “You should save that advice for yourself.”

Surprisingly, Yu Duqiu wasn’t angered by this. His icy demeanor melted into a smile, and he lightly scolded, “You reckless fool.”

The CEO’s office took up the entire top floor, furnished like a show flat with no personal touches. It was obvious it had been vacant for a long time, rarely visited.

As soon as Lou Baoguo threw the unconscious security guard onto the sofa, the two department managers summoned earlier arrived to report in.

Zhao Feihua still had his scholarly demeanor, and relying on his old classmate relationship with the boss, he was much more relaxed than the nervous HR manager. Upon seeing the handsome security guard lying on the couch, he couldn’t help but let his idle mouth run: “Oh, President Yu, it was one thing when you messed around at home, but now you’re not sparing the boys at the company either?”

Yu Duqiu, following his lead, pointed casually. “Yeah. Baoguo, pin him down too. We’re going to need more than one to play with.”

Zhao Feihua immediately clutched his collar, “Don’t mess around! I only sell my soul, not my body!”

The HR manager, feeling out of place in this familiar banter, awkwardly stood by, forcing a smile. Like Yuan Li, he had also switched to this new company when it was founded. Word was that this young boss was a genius and a second-generation heir who, on a whim, abandoned his expanding business empire in the U.S. to return home and pursue the thankless field of brain-machine interfaces. He really fancied himself a scientist.

Although he harbored these thoughts, he was actually quite satisfied with his new boss. Yu Duqiu rarely visited the company, paid them handsomely compared to other firms, and kept a laid-back atmosphere. No one in the company, including him, knew the real progress of the experimental project. Since Yu Duqiu never assigned him any tasks, he was more than happy with the status quo, hoping this decadent heir would continue his indulgent lifestyle.

But today, unexpectedly, the big boss singled him out for something trivial, and he couldn’t help but curse his bad luck.

Lou Baoguo, after shaking and nudging the unconscious security guard, finally woke him up. The blow had been so hard that the security guard’s mind was still buzzing, and his whole body ached. He couldn’t even sit up, so he remained lying there.

“Yuan Li said you hired him?” Yu Duqiu, seated in the boss chair, massaged his temples as he recalled for a few seconds, then remembered, “Manager Li, right?”

“You can just call me Xiao Li.” Manager Li broke out in a cold sweat, surprised that the boss, who rarely appeared, even remembered his name. Realizing this heir might not be easy to deal with, he quickly took the chance to explain before Yu Duqiu could reprimand him. “President Yu, I’ve already heard from Yuan Li about this situation. I am responsible for hiring security. I know the company’s policy states that all hires must get your approval, but a security guard resigned recently. It just so happened that you were trending on social media, and many reporters came to the company, leaving our security department understaffed. So we temporarily hired this young man, planning to complete the background check later.”

Yu Duqiu gave an indiscernible low hum through his nose, “So, can I have you work for fifty years first, and when you die, I’ll pay you? Does that work?”

Manager Li felt a chill and sensed something was wrong. “President Yu, the background check you requested is too detailed. You want every social media account investigated, and it takes time to compile that.”

“Can’t do it? Then don’t do it at all. Go submit your resignation to Yuan Li.”

“No, I…”

“Now.” Yu Duqiu gestured toward the door, “I never give second chances.”

Manager Li didn’t get another chance to speak as Zhou Yi grabbed him by the collar and tossed him out. Devastated, he watched the door close, saying goodbye to his cushy, well-paid job.

Lou Baoguo grabbed the soul-lost security guard from the couch, “Since you’re awake, stop pretending to be a vegetable.”

The security guard’s internal organs slowly settled back into place, and although his body still hurt, he managed to sit up, looking dazed and nervous. Glancing at the people in the room, still unsure of the situation, he timidly said, “President Yu… hitting someone like that can have legal consequences.”

Lou Baoguo immediately widened his eyes, “Hey, are you trying to blackmail someone?”

Yu Duqiu waved it off, “Baoguo, you were wrong this time. I didn’t tell you to send him flying, apologize.”

Zhao Feihua was almost moved to tears. Turning to Zhou Yi, he said, “The kid’s finally grown up, learning how to be a person. I don’t have to worry anymore.”

Zhou Yi patted his shoulder, “Well, he is almost thirty.”

Unwillingly, Lou Baoguo nudged the security guard, “Sorry about that… What’s your name again?”

Traumatized by the collision, the security guard instinctively flinched away and nervously replied, “Huang, Huang Hanxiang… I just started two days ago. President Yu, I overheard what you and Manager Li said. You’re suspicious of my background? You can investigate me thoroughly. I’m a local, didn’t do well in school, and couldn’t find a good job after graduating, so I became a security guard. I worked at my last job for a year, and when I heard the pay here was good and they hired young people, I applied.”

Yu Duqiu smiled warmly, “Since you’re so confident, I suppose there won’t be any problems with your background. However, your reaction earlier confused me. Why were you staring at me? And why did you frown when I kissed you?”

“Because you’re very good-looking, I couldn’t help but be attracted…” Huang Hanxiang lowered his head, seemingly shy. “I frowned because I wasn’t prepared and got scared. Plus, doing that in public isn’t really appropriate, but I don’t dislike it…”

His answer was reasonable and even contained a hint of affection, matching his fresh, handsome, young appearance. He seemed like an innocent young man experiencing his first crush.

Zhao Feihua knew this was exactly Yu Duqiu’s type. The guy had clearly done his homework and cursed under his breath, “Cunning omega!”

Yu Duqiu, who never turned down a handsome man, smiled, “Just to be clear, I only top. If you try to go against me, like someone else here, it’s off the table.”

Huang Hanxiang, seemingly overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, stammered, “Uh… I-I didn’t think that far ahead…”

Lou Baoguo whispered, “He’ll probably take him home soon, and we might get a new colleague. Poor Bai Zhao.”

Zhou Yi, unable to fully grasp the flirting between the young men, still felt that something was off about the security guard’s behavior. “Maybe not. Young Master won’t trust him until his background is fully checked.”

Lou Baoguo replied, “But he didn’t check out my brother’s background either…”

Zhou Yi shot him a look, and Lou Baoguo stopped talking—they both remembered that Hong Liangzhang had warned them before they left. Yu Duqiu had been secretly conducting a thorough background check on Bai Zhao, which could mean something had gone wrong. That’s why they were told to keep a close eye on Bai Zhao.

From the night at the Junyue until now, Yu Duqiu’s suspicion of Bai Zhao had never stopped, yet he still had him serve as his personal bodyguard.

What was this? Special treatment?

While they were still puzzling over it, Zhao Feihua hit the nail on the head. “Look at the difference in looks between them. You really think they get the same treatment? This security guard is at most a high-quality male specimen.”

Lou Baoguo asked curiously, “Then what about my Ge?”

Zhao Feihua adjusted his glasses, sending out two sharp glints as he looked Bai Zhao up and down. “A masterpiece by Dr. Nüwa.”

Lou Baoguo and Zhou Yi were stunned for a moment, then gasped in unison, “Brilliant!”

Bai Zhao: “…”

The office was big enough that their whispers didn’t carry to the other two. But strangely, while the group had been chatting for a while, the other two hadn’t made a sound. Zhou Yi and the others glanced over suspiciously—

Yu Duqiu’s once-smiling face had flattened at some point, and he had been staring silently at Huang Hanxiang for a while before his gaze slowly shifted over to them.

Lou Baoguo and Zhou Yi, thinking he had overheard their conversation, immediately stood up straight and stopped talking.

But Yu Duqiu wasn’t looking at them.

“Bai Zhao.”

“What?”

Yu Duqiu suddenly stood up, shoved his hands into his pockets, and strolled leisurely to the office door. He pressed the lock button with a soft click, then turned around. “Just to confirm, you said I have one hundred percent of your loyalty, right?”

“Right.” Bai Zhao answered without hesitation.

“Everyone here is basically an insider, so I’ll say the unpleasant things upfront.” Yu Duqiu leaned against the door frame, blocking the only exit of the room.

His cold gaze was like a scalpel, the sharp blade dissecting a person piece by piece, extracting the heart to test its sincerity.

“If you dare to betray me, I will lock you in the basement, put real handcuffs on you, and leave you to starve until your body decays and only bones remain. Then I’ll turn you into a specimen and keep you at home as a collectible. After all, you’re an orphan, and your adoptive father is dead, so no one will notice your disappearance.”

“…” Zhao Feihua quietly said, “I take back what I just said about him growing up…”

Zhou Yi warned him with a straight face, “Shut up, or you might become the next specimen.”

Even though Yu Duqiu had never done anything so insane, no one would doubt whether he could do such a thing.

Huang Hanxiang felt a chill at the back of his neck, huddled in the corner of the sofa, afraid to breathe, staring wide-eyed at the scene.

The office fell into an eerie silence.

Yu Duqiu raised an eyebrow at Bai Zhao: “Are you scared into silence?”

“No, just a bit regretful,” Bai Zhao replied, his tone tinged with subtle disappointment.

“Regretful about what?”

“That you’re willing to collect my corpse and keep it with you so I can always accompany you. I think that’s great, much better than dying alone in some unknown corner. It’s just a pity… I won’t betray you, so I won’t enjoy such treatment.”

Yu Duqiu stared at him in silence, as if assessing the truth of his words.

Bai Zhao faced him calmly.

After a moment, Yu Duqiu burst out laughing, “You’re crazy.”

With that laugh, the tense, oppressive atmosphere vanished in an instant, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Feihua, who had been holding his breath, finally dared to speak, cursing, “You’re the last person qualified to call anyone crazy.” However, before they could finish exhaling, Yu Duqiu spoke again:

“Now, please explain why he has never looked you in the eye from the beginning to the end?”

The young security guard sitting on the sofa suddenly froze.

“He said it was because I’m good-looking, so he stares at me, but you’re good-looking too, yet he doesn’t look at you at all,” Yu Duqiu said with amusement. “I deliberately steered the topic to you; a normal person would at least glance at you, but he still doesn’t look. You didn’t respond either; you’ve been too silent, little Bai wolf.”

Huang Hanxiang, pale-faced, interjected, “The reason I don’t look at him is because—”

“Did I ask you to speak? Shut up.” Yu Duqiu didn’t turn his head, his gaze fixated on one person. “I’m only giving you one chance to explain. Think carefully before you speak.”

All the astonished or anxious eyes in the office shot toward Bai Zhao, surrounding him layer by layer.

Yet his gaze only responded to one person.

“There’s nothing to explain; it’s just as you guessed.” Bai Zhao said flatly, “That’s right, we know each other.”