TMCOC CH 18

Chapter 18: The More You’re Used to It, the More of a Brat You Become (V)

“Guest? Looking for me?”

But this was Du Corporation’s office building. Why would someone looking for Wei Gaochen come here?

Du Linghe glanced at Wei Gaochen, expecting to see the same confusion on his face. Instead, what he saw was something far more subtle.

As if he already knew who it was.

And was helpless about it.

“President Du, it looks like I really should be leaving.”

Wei Gaochen stood up from the sofa. The secretary, perceptive as ever, quietly excused himself first. Wei Gaochen smoothed out his wrinkled clothes before lifting his head to look at Du Linghe.

It was obvious Du Linghe had no intention of letting him leave so easily.

“Wei Gaochen. Let’s talk.” Du Linghe slightly raised his chin. “I don’t like beating around the bush when I do things — one month.”

“…What?”

“Live with me for one month.”

“…Huh?”

“If after one month you still feel you can’t get along with me, then get out of my life.”

“…?”

No—this isn’t right. Why did the tone suddenly change like this?

“Why is it me? President Du, don’t you think that’s a bit too much? You’re the one who proposed living together, so why am I the one who has to get out in the end? I haven’t done anything to you from start to finish!”

“Anything?”

“I, Wei Gaochen, have never done anything against my conscience since the day I was born. I built my career from nothing with a clear conscience!”

“…Do you maybe want to think carefully about what you just said?”

What do you mean you haven’t done anything? More accurately — you’ve done everything.

Du Linghe’s gaze looked like it had already sentenced Wei Gaochen to death. Wei Gaochen choked for a second, then said somewhat guiltily, “Of course I’ve thought about it. It’s just fair and healthy business competition.”

Would fair business competition repeatedly and deliberately sabotage every investment event Du Linghe attended — especially by ruining contract deals that already bore Du Linghe’s signature?

Or, when Du Linghe was swamped because of Wei Corporation’s interference, show up personally just to make his presence known — snatching away a bidding project Du Linghe had prepared for three months, then coming over to taunt him face to face?

Every year during bidding season, Wei Corporation was like a rabid dog. No matter the cost, they would do everything to leave Du Corporation in chaos. Out of the four quarters each year, at least one would see stock prices dip because of Wei Corporation’s “madness.”

Perhaps Du Linghe had gradually grown used to this torment. Wei Gaochen was like a natural disaster — no matter how much you prepared, he would still find a way to succeed.

Eventually, Du Linghe stopped feeling anger over it. Du Corporation hadn’t collapsed despite all the games, and the stock market only fluctuated symbolically. Gradually, he realized Wei Gaochen would never truly bring Du Corporation down.

In Du Linghe’s eyes, Wei Gaochen was like a mischievous child.

Du Corporation was his favorite toy.

He would shake it around, toy with it maliciously, but he would never actually break it.

Infuriating — enough to make one grind their teeth — yet impossible to properly punish.

After all, in the industry, Wei Gaochen had always been a business genius. No matter how angry or jealous others felt, he still possessed a long-term vision and methods that impressed everyone around him.

In truth, no one dared underestimate Wei Corporation. Its market share had been visibly increasing year by year. And although Wei Gaochen rarely attended public banquets, anyone who had met him would never forget him.

His refined appearance and courteous demeanor made it easy for people to lower their guard when he smiled — at least, that’s what companies who had never dealt with Wei Corporation might think.

What most people actually saw was that beneath Wei Gaochen’s approachable exterior lay negotiation tactics more cunning than a fox’s.

For many years, Du Linghe would wake up in the middle of the night after dreaming that Wei Gaochen was talking trash to him, then lie awake, losing sleep while rethinking Du Corporation’s entire business strategy.

As time passed, however, things evolved. Now, whenever he dreamed about Wei Gaochen, he would simply clamp a hand over his mouth and pin him down, making sure he couldn’t say a single word that would infuriate him.

After all, that mouth of his could really run nonstop.

He wanted to do exactly that right now. But seeing Wei Gaochen’s slightly guilty expression — secretly observing him out of the corner of his eye — the anger inside him quietly dissipated.

Maybe it was because he’d been suppressed too many times in the business arena. In the early years, Wei Gaochen had been especially good at acting as though he was about to be crushed into bankruptcy by Du Corporation — only to charge straight into the industry’s top ranks when quarterly results came out.

Du Linghe sometimes felt like he was developing PTSD. Wei Gaochen might look disadvantaged now, but who knew when he’d suddenly turn the tables again?

Unwilling, yet utterly helpless against him.

Du Linghe sighed. “Wei Gaochen. I won’t repeat myself a second time.”

“…So what President Du means is…” Wei Gaochen gestured back and forth between the two of them. “…we try dating for a month?”

“When did I say dating?” Du Linghe corrected him coolly. “The relationship between us is that I haven’t killed you and dumped you in the ocean. Wei Gaochen, you should be laughing in your dreams about that.”

“It’s just living together.”

“But living with you would only accelerate my death, wouldn’t it?! Maybe one day I’ll show up on the front page of the news!” Wei Gaochen protested. “And President Du’s usual cold sarcasm constantly wounds my fragile little heart. Even if my body doesn’t suffer fatal injuries, my heart will slowly die!”

“If you say one more word, Wei Gaochen, don’t forget this is Du Corporation’s building.” Du Linghe’s gaze drifted toward the floor-to-ceiling windows of the CEO’s office. “You can think carefully and choose your words properly.”

“…Living together with someone as handsome and wealthy as President Du is… truly… wonderful…”

Du Linghe looked at his obviously unwilling expression and rubbed his forehead. “…Don’t overcomplicate it. Think of it as signing a special project. The primary condition is that you must personally participate.”

“This isn’t something I can just refuse, is it? This is a—a tyrannical contract.” Wei Gaochen heard another knock at the office door. “…Even though I don’t really understand why President Du wants to pull something like this, I have to go.”

“If you walk out that door, I’ll take it as your default agreement. Don’t say I forced you. And come here.”

Du Linghe extended a hand, motioning for Wei Gaochen to lean closer. The gesture resembled someone teasing their own pet. Wei Gaochen stared at his hand for a few seconds before slowly complying.

Under the system’s reward effects, no matter how sharp his words were, whenever Du Linghe wanted to touch him, Wei Gaochen would obediently allow it.

The collar that had been crooked was straightened. The buttons at his neckline were fastened. After a few adjustments, he looked more or less the same as when he had first arrived — though unfortunately, his once-neatly styled hair was beyond saving.

“Alright. Henry will escort you — he’s outside. Once you’re done handling Wei Corporation’s matters, I’ll come find you.”

Du Linghe lightly brushed behind Wei Gaochen’s ear, tucking aside stray strands of hair. The faint ticklish sensation made Wei Gaochen shiver.

“F-find me for what?”

“Don’t forget, President Wei agreed to my one-month ‘project.’ We need to sign a contract.”

“Then right now—”

“The project details need discussion. We’ll talk properly later.”

“I didn’t— mm!”

Wei Gaochen hadn’t even finished refusing before Du Linghe leaned forward and kissed his lips.

Like a startled cat with its fur standing on end, Wei Gaochen’s eyes widened instantly. He covered his mouth, shot to his feet, and yanked open the CEO office door.

Before leaving, he paused slightly. Then he slowly turned back, meeting Du Linghe’s gaze as he lounged on the sofa.

“What is it?” Du Linghe asked.

Wei Gaochen looked like he wanted to say something. After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally spoke.

“…I might not show up.”

Du Linghe raised one brow.

Then he revealed his usual faintly confident expression — the look of someone who held everything in the palm of his hand.

“You’ll show up, Wei Gaochen.”

(To be continued)