TLLKTBD CH 29

Chapter 29: Xu Yang, You’re Being Unfair.

Qi Shaobai left early in the morning, mainly to avoid running into Xu Yang.

When dealing with Xu Yang, he had developed a personal survival strategy: avoid him as much as possible at work, and if he couldn’t, then just let Xu Yang vent however he pleased. To be honest, he was almost used to Xu Yang’s cold indifference or sharp words.

But only almost.

Every now and then, when faced with Xu Yang’s disdain and resentment, there was still a dull ache in his chest. Maybe after experiencing it a few more times, he would finally become desensitized—able to let the words go in one ear and out the other.

What he couldn’t understand was why, after so long, Xu Yang and Lu Qian could now sit together, share a meal, and chat as if nothing had happened—yet when it came to him, Xu Yang just wouldn’t let it go.

Qi Shaobai angrily kicked a small rock by his foot.

That night… sure, he had been the one who initiated most of it. But it still took two to tango, didn’t it? Xu Yang had enjoyed it for an entire night, while he had been the one underneath, enduring the torment until morning. It had hurt like hell, and afterward, he had to suffer months of being ignored and pushed aside.

What was it all for?

Qi Shaobai scoffed at himself.

Even now, he still had the audacity to wonder if it was all just for one night with Xu Yang.

That night had been nothing but a brutal disillusionment and a painful lesson in growing up.

Qi Shaobai wandered around outside until the telecom company opened, then immediately went in to replace his phone. Afterward, he searched online for rental listings, contacted several landlords, and spent the entire day checking out apartments. But none of them met his expectations—either the environment was too filthy, or the rent was too high. By the time the workday was nearly over, he was exhausted and frustrated.

Just then, he received a call from Li Jin.

Li Jin was the assistant to Lin Jun, one of the designers at the firm. He had been at a construction site all day, overseeing progress, and had only just returned to the office when he heard about the fire at Qi Shaobai’s place and how he was now temporarily staying at the director’s home. Without hesitation, he called to check on him.

Qi Shaobai didn’t hide anything and told him about his current situation—how he was running all over the city looking for a place to stay, tired and overheated from the search.

Li Jin, always enthusiastic and reliable, immediately offered to help. As soon as he hung up, he opened his computer and started searching for rental listings near the office.

Li Jin’s computer screen was facing the entrance, so when Xu Yang walked in with a cup of tea, he happened to see rental listings displayed on the monitor.

“You’re looking for an apartment?” Xu Yang took a sip of tea and casually asked, “I thought you lived with your family?”

“Oh! It’s not for me—I’m helping Xiao Qi look for one,” Li Jin glanced at Director Xu before continuing, “I just called him. He’s still out running around. He’s already seen three or four places today, but none of them were suitable. He’s getting anxious, so I’m trying to find something decent and send him the addresses.”

“What’s the rush? Finding a place isn’t something you should hurry like this,” Xu Yang frowned. “I just told him yesterday that there’s no need to be in such a rush. The most important thing is safety. He’s already been through a fire—hasn’t he learned his lesson? Kids never remember the important things, only the trivial ones.”

“Xiao Qi just doesn’t want to trouble you,” Li Jin explained on his behalf.

“I’m not troubled,” Xu Yang scoffed. “If he didn’t make me run out in the middle of the night to save him, I’d be even less troubled.”

Li Jin frowned. He had always felt that Director Xu was a decent person—kind, fair, and professional. Yet, when it came to Qi Shaobai, there was an inexplicable hostility. He didn’t understand why.

Qi Shaobai was the youngest and least experienced in the office. He was cheerful, diligent, and responsible. Everyone affectionately called him Xiao Qi, treating him like the office’s little brother. But whenever Director Xu referred to Xiao Qi as a kid, it always carried a tone of criticism, as if he were calling him reckless and immature.

“Director, do you have some kind of misunderstanding with Xiao Qi?” Li Jin finally worked up the courage to ask. He had been confused by Xu Yang’s attitude for some time.

The rest of the office, overhearing the question, paused their work and turned to Xu Yang, waiting for his response. They all shared the same curiosity as Li Jin.

“…” Xu Yang was momentarily stunned. Looking at the expectant gazes directed at him, he felt a bit flustered. “What misunderstanding could I possibly have with him?”

“You’re always so harsh with him.”

“You scold him a lot.”

“And if you’re not scolding him, you ignore him completely.”

“But Xiao Qi is actually very well-behaved. He may be chatty in the office, but he never slacks off.”

“Yeah, yeah! He just laughs a lot, but he’s not goofing around. Director, do you think he’s not serious about work?”

“He’s afraid of making you angry. Lately, he doesn’t even dare to speak or laugh too loudly in the office…”

One by one, his colleagues took turns calling out Xu Yang’s unfair treatment of Qi Shaobai. Their voices piled up, leaving Xu Yang’s face alternating between pale and flushed.

“When have I ever? I treat everyone equally and with care.”

“Bullshit!”

“…”

Who was bold enough to say that?! Xu Yang’s face darkened as he scanned the room, trying to identify the culprit.

Lu Qian had just walked into the office when he sensed the strange atmosphere. He quietly leaned over to another designer, Qian Xinyu, and asked what had happened.

Qian Xinyu chuckled as he filled him in on how everyone had just banded together to stand up for Xiao Qi against the “tyrant.”

Lu Qian glanced at Xu Yang, whose expression was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, don’t misunderstand Director Xu. It’s not like he’s mistreating Xiao Qi. Didn’t he even take him in when he had nowhere to go?”

“More like we’re worried he’ll end up bullying him at home too,” Lin Jun chimed in.

He said it offhandedly, but the words hit their mark. Xu Yang’s face flushed red as he snapped, “What nonsense are you spouting?!”

“I’m just giving you a heads-up—stop giving him such a hard time. You scold him at work, then go home and keep giving him the cold shoulder. It’s like a relay race. No matter how thick-skinned Xiao Qi is, he’s bound to feel worn down,” Lin Jun, the oldest in the department, rarely involved himself in office gossip. But even he couldn’t hold back this time. “You clearly mean well, but your attitude ruins everything.”

With that, he grabbed his briefcase, waved his hand, and walked out.

Li Jin silently gave a thumbs-up, admiring his colleague’s courage in speaking up at such a critical moment.

Seeing that Xu Yang’s expression had turned truly unpleasant, the rest of the team decided it was best not to push their luck. One by one, they packed up their things and left, leaving only Xu Yang and Lu Qian in the office.

Xu Yang pulled out a chair and sat down, feeling stifled. “Do I… really act like that?” He struggled with the next words. “Am I bullying Xiao Qi?”

Lu Qian returned to his own desk. “What do you think?”

“I’m already trying my best to avoid him. Why would I even dare to bully him?” Xu Yang blurted out his true feelings.

Lu Qian raised an eyebrow. “What exactly has he done that makes you want to avoid him? Is he clinging to you? Threatening you? Or… does he want you to take responsibility?” He shook his head. “Xu Yang, you’re really not being fair here.”

“…” Xu Yang was at a loss for words.

“Besides,” Lu Qian said seriously, meeting his gaze, “the one who’s actually been avoiding someone… isn’t you. It’s Xiao Qi. You’re the one constantly stirring things up.”

(To be continued…)