He Xiaoyuan felt a strange and subtle shift. Now that he officially held the title of “Manager,” his mindset noticeably changed. Even as a newcomer, initially nervous and inexperienced with projects, he felt a touch more confidence. Facing Barre’s representatives, he was noticeably more composed.
He Xiaoyuan understood that this confidence came from his formal position and the backing of a major company—it was the authority of being granted “capability,” not of having it inherently himself. Fundamentally, it wasn’t the same as Chang Bei or Yu Xun.
Even so, He Xiaoyuan wanted to rely on this new authority to face Barre with assurance.
He knew he needed this, and he accepted the subtle changes in his mindset calmly.
He also knew his current task: to negotiate the Barre case successfully.
So when Vice President Zhang’s attitude shifted noticeably upon receiving the business card, He Xiaoyuan, fully aware of the reason, didn’t let it go to his head.
Following the strategy he had pre-planned, he began the conversation—explaining why he hadn’t been in frequent contact with Barre over the past two days, citing communications with internal departments. Big companies had complex hierarchies and processes; everything required approval, and he hoped Zhang would understand.
—Of course, this was just an excuse.
Then he painted a picture, following Chang Bei’s previous plan, describing the incredible impact and traffic the game Meow Meow Meow would generate if integrated into their platform backend.
He expressed genuine optimism toward Barre, leaving Vice President Zhang with the impression that he was eager to collaborate.
During the conversation, he also subtly highlighted how complex SpiritPress’s departments were, the multitude of internally developed or acquired games, the fierce competition among them, and how much effort he had personally invested to persuade the platform team, especially because he valued Barre’s product.
All in all, a thorough exchange—each speaking, each responding. In the end, it was clear whose words left a deeper impression.
After Vice President Zhang left, He Xiaoyuan went to the pantry for a glass of water. Sipping it, he thought deeply: Barre’s attitude seemed to have shifted rather quickly, and he didn’t think it was because he had reached out to Mr. Xu and gained his endorsement of SpiritPress.
Having had enough but not excessive contact with Barre and Zhang, especially after today’s meeting, He Xiaoyuan felt a subtle shift. Barre seemed, in some way, to be leaning toward them—not overtly, but he sensed it.
Was it because their negotiations with a competing company had faltered?
So they turned to SpiritPress?
Yet, they still kept a measured stance, maintaining the advantage on their side.
He Xiaoyuan pondered all of this.
Later, when Chang Bei returned to the office, He Xiaoyuan shared his sense that Barre’s attitude had changed.
Chang Bei tossed his suit jacket and files onto his desk, sat down with a thud, and snapped his fingers: “You guessed right. Barre’s deal with the other company fell through. They were using us as a stepping stone, trying to negotiate a better price with them. But that company didn’t see the potential in Meow Meow Meow.”
He Xiaoyuan was surprised. “It really fell through?”
Chang Bei smiled confidently. “I still have my channels.”
He then looked at He Xiaoyuan steadily. “So now, you can play the game of attracting them—our advantage is in our hands.”
He stated directly, “Even if they don’t authorize SpiritPress, they won’t find a better partner.”
He Xiaoyuan thought for a moment. “So this is like taking advantage of the competitor’s misstep?”
Chang Bei, sorting through documents, snorted lightly through his nose, a touch arrogant: “The foolish competitor… they didn’t see the value in Meow Meow Meow? Who else’s misstep would we take advantage of?”
He then instructed He Xiaoyuan, “Remember to schedule a meeting with the media platform soon, to discuss Meow Meow Meow.”
He Xiaoyuan: “Got it.”
Chang Bei continued, “How’s Subject One going? Have you gone to take the test?”
He Xiaoyuan had the Subject One question bank open on his computer. “Almost done. Planning to take it this weekend.”
Chang Bei hummed. “Perfect timing—while things are slow, you can work on the Barre case and get your license. That way, when I go on a rage-driving spree, someone else can drive.”
Yu Xun, also in the office, chimed in: “Little Xiaoyuan, once you get your license, you’ll need to buy your own car, okay? No one’s driving that junk for you.”
Chang Bei shot back: “Your car’s junk.”
Yu Xun: “Yours!”
Chang Bei: “Yours!”
Yu Xun: “Yours, yours, yours!”
He Xiaoyuan, brushing through Subject One, listened and laughed—just another project in a team where each starting capital was in the eight figures, yet their bickering was like a bunch of elementary school kids.
On the weekend, Lu Chen drove He Xiaoyuan to take his Subject One exam.
On the way, He Xiaoyuan remarked that Lu Chen, the big boss, seemed more free than the smaller bosses like Chang Bei. “Chang Bei’s already in the group chat early in the morning, contemplating how the early bird gets the worm.”
Lu Chen, driving, asked, “What group chat?”
Realizing he’d spoken too much, He Xiaoyuan immediately clamped his mouth shut and tapped it with his hand.
Lu Chen didn’t seem to mind, smiling with a half-joking, half-serious tone: “You’ve joined quite a few groups behind my back, haven’t you?”
Then he added, “How many groups does the project team have in the office? The assistants and admin have one, Chang Bei and the others have one… is there another big group that everyone except me is in?”
Every word hit the mark.
He Xiaoyuan sat in the passenger seat and silently gave a thumbs-up. Then he remembered something and said, “The assistants kicked me out of their group.”
Lu Chen glanced at him while driving. “Hmm?”
He Xiaoyuan explained, “They said I’m a wolf too—a growing little wolf. I can’t join the lambs’ group.”
Lu Chen laughed. “Then you’re in the wolves’ group.”
He added casually, as if it were obvious: “Did Chang Bei and the others talk about me in the group?”
He Xiaoyuan shook his head. “Not really.”
Lu Chen continued idly: “They didn’t mention me?”
He Xiaoyuan thought for a moment. “They did—last time I saw them talking about what brand of hair wax you use, and how your hair is always styled so perfectly.”
Lu Chen chuckled, his chest vibrating slightly. “That’s it? Just that? Anything else?”
He Xiaoyuan: “They also talked about your shoes.”
Lu Chen: “What brand? Did they figure it out?”
He Xiaoyuan: “No idea. They ended up talking about something else, betting on how many projects Qin Chengfei would join at most.”
Lu Chen: “How many?”
He Xiaoyuan and Lu Chen spoke at the same time: “What brand?”
They both laughed together.
When they arrived, the car parked at a nearby lot, He Xiaoyuan went to take his Subject One exam while Lu Chen waited in the car.
While waiting, Lu Chen was unusually patient and relaxed. He had a feeling: he was waiting for his little wolf.
The little wolf had been personally delivered by him, so of course, he would personally pick him up as well.
A strange sense of pride crept in. He didn’t even know what he was proud of, but his posture straightened involuntarily.
After a while, he even pulled sunglasses from the central armrest, perched them on his nose in a cool pose, and continued waiting patiently.
Finally, the passenger door swung open, and He Xiaoyuan slid back into the seat.
Lu Chen, with the sunglasses on, turned his face, one hand on the steering wheel, the other on the gear lever, and asked, “Passed?”
He Xiaoyuan closed the door. “Passed. Full marks.”
He turned to see Lu Chen with the sunglasses, curious, and thought it looked pretty cool and stylish.
Lu Chen, as he shifted the gear and drove out, used his right hand to adjust the sunglasses, placing them on He Xiaoyuan’s nose.
The world immediately darkened for He Xiaoyuan. He lifted a hand to adjust them, turned to look at Lu Chen, and buckled his seatbelt while asking, “How do I look? Cool?”
Lu Chen tilted his head slightly and curved his lips. “Cool. Since when have you, little Xiaoyuan, ever not been cool?”
He Xiaoyuan, wearing the sunglasses and looking ahead, felt more confident than before. “True.”
Meanwhile, while exploring the Barre case and trying to control the initiative, He Xiaoyuan began practicing Subject Two at the driving school that weekend.
He didn’t know why he had a coach all to himself, nor why the coach seemed confident enough to leave him alone after a lap around the course. Eventually, he found himself in the driver’s seat while Lu Chen sat in the passenger seat to teach him.
Yes—Lu Chen was there.
He Xiaoyuan, grasping the steering wheel awkwardly as he adapted to the car’s feel, was reminded by Lu Chen: “Don’t be nervous. Hold the wheel properly.”
The coach’s car slowly inched forward without touching the gas, He Xiaoyuan’s hands perfectly positioned on the wheel.
After moving about five meters, Lu Chen said, “Not bad.”
He Xiaoyuan blinked. He hadn’t done anything with the pedals—just held the wheel straight—and that deserved praise?
Lu Chen, glancing between the road and He Xiaoyuan, coached like a one-on-one trainer: “There’s a turn ahead. You’ll need to steer. Do you know which way?”
He Xiaoyuan focused: “Left.”
Lu Chen: “Feel how much to turn the wheel when the time comes.”
“Okay.”
Approaching the turn, He Xiaoyuan preemptively turned the wheel. Lu Chen noticed and guided the car, “A bit early. Feel it out and bring it back slightly.”
He adjusted the wheel, then reached over, guiding He Xiaoyuan’s hands into the correct position, his right hand covering He Xiaoyuan’s right hand, controlling the wheel together.
He Xiaoyuan, still new to driving, concentrated entirely on the road, unaware of the touch.
When he finally glanced at his hands, he saw Lu Chen’s long, broad hand over his slightly tense one. He felt nothing inappropriate—just the shared contact.
Beside him, Lu Chen noticed the contrast: He Xiaoyuan’s fair hand against his warmer skin, the subtle temperature difference transmitting naturally through their touch.
Because of the slight lean toward the driver’s side, they were very close. Even without trying, Lu Chen caught a faint, fresh scent unique to a young man.
It didn’t provoke any particular thoughts, but Lu Chen instinctively glanced at him.
Leaning closer, he casually asked, “You wearing cologne?”
He Xiaoyuan turned, eyes clear. “No, I don’t use that.”
He Xiaoyuan paused, puzzled. “Do I… smell?”
Lu Chen didn’t answer, and He Xiaoyuan didn’t dwell on the topic either.
The two continued to share control of the steering wheel.
When Lu Chen finally let go, allowing He Xiaoyuan to drive alone, the man in the passenger seat cast a subtle, calculated glance at him while his Adam’s apple rolled slightly.
He Xiaoyuan sensed the look and turned. “What is it?”
Lu Chen’s gaze lingered with quiet thoughtfulness, but his tone remained matter-of-fact: “Nothing. Just focus on driving.”
Driving wasn’t difficult—especially with an automatic transmission—and He Xiaoyuan, not unskilled and with decent car sense, soon mastered the right-angle turns, S-curves, and two types of parking maneuvers.
During a break, He Xiaoyuan bought an ice cream at a small shop by the training ground. He and Lu Chen sat side by side under the sunshade outside the shop.
He Xiaoyuan ate his ice cream while Lu Chen didn’t, quietly watching the young man beside him.
Up close, He Xiaoyuan’s side profile was sharp and beautiful, with long eyelashes.
He sat quietly, eating carefully like a hamster—biting the ice cream little by little with his front teeth, leaving a neat row of teeth marks.
Perhaps because of the heat, he ate quickly, finishing half the ice cream in a short time.
Lu Chen observed silently, finding the scene both amusing and captivating, tilting his head slightly to keep watching.
It was like watching a seed sprout or dewdrops gather, his eyes filled with fascination.
When He Xiaoyuan blinked his clear eyes toward him mid-bite, their gazes met, and Lu Chen’s eyes lit up with a smile. He asked, “Want more?”
Cheeks puffed from chewing, He Xiaoyuan immediately nodded. Yes.
Lu Chen stood, then sat back down, handing him a new ice cream.
As He Xiaoyuan reached for it, Lu Chen subtly moved his hand, blocking him. He Xiaoyuan understood instantly, swallowed his bite, and directly bit the ice cream in Lu Chen’s hand.
Lu Chen had bought a different flavor. Seeing He Xiaoyuan take a bite, he asked casually, “Is it okay?”
“Mm.”
He Xiaoyuan nodded, swallowed, and said, “More,” leaning toward Lu Chen’s ice cream and biting again.
Lu Chen held the ice cream, watching him bite, observing the slightly wet, sweet movements of his lips, then gently wiped the crimson moisture from the corner of his mouth with his clean fingertip.
He did all this without revealing the slightest emotion, continuing the simple act of sharing ice cream naturally, leaving no trace of awkwardness.
He Xiaoyuan, blissfully unaware, kept eating, and with the ice cream finished, nudged Lu Chen with his bent knee. “Bro, what should we eat tonight?”
Lu Chen didn’t move, letting He Xiaoyuan’s knee rest against him. “What do you feel like?”
“Maybe noodles?”
He nudged again. “Is that okay?”
Lu Chen glanced down, his legs still planted, silently allowing these small, familiar gestures to happen naturally.