Assistant Zhong had recently been feeling that something was off.
Yet, he couldn’t quite put his finger on what exactly felt wrong.
Take now, for instance.
He glanced at a message.
It was sent by Assistant A’Mao.
“Are you working overtime tonight, or do you want to go grab a drink together?”
Assistant Zhong slowly sank into thought.
He and Assistant A’Mao… when exactly had they become this familiar with each other?
This was already the third time this week that Assistant A’Mao had invited him for a drink, wasn’t it?
Despite his inner conflict, Assistant Zhong quickly replied and agreed.
After sending the message, he immediately went to report to Zong Cheng.
Zong Cheng gave a noncommittal hum and handed him another sheet of paper.
“Again?”
Assistant Zhong looked at the paper, hesitating slightly.
“Hmm?”
“What’s the matter?”
Zong Cheng looked at him.
Sigh.
Assistant Zhong exhaled silently, then took the paper.
Though…
At this rate, he might end up knowing every one of Mr. Yin’s preferences.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that one day, knowing too much might get him killed.
Six o’clock.
Assistant Zhong left work on time for the appointment.
Seeing him leave on time again, the company gossip group couldn’t contain themselves.
“Seriously, has Assistant Zhong grown a backbone? How many times has he left on time now? Are you all even aware of this?”
“? Are you joking, Ning? Zong Cheng hasn’t even left before eight recently. You dare leave early?”
“So, how is Assistant Zhong this unstoppable???”
“That’s not even the strongest part. The finance department says Zong Cheng gave Assistant Zhong a bonus this month!!!”
“What? Skipping overtime and still getting a bonus? Is this for real? Should I suddenly…?”
“Suddenly what? Work overtime properly! The company’s been expanding crazily, and losing one Assistant Zhong is one thing—we absolutely can’t allow a second traitor!”
“Exactly!”
Zong Cheng looked at the chat notifications clattering on his screen.
He couldn’t help himself.
He clicked in.
After reading, he fell into a strange silence.
This actually sparked public outrage?
Should he revoke Assistant Zhong’s bonus?
But then he thought better of it.
His gaze fell on the sheets of paper carefully placed before him.
They were all the preferences of Yin Chen that Assistant Zhong had dug up from Assistant A’Mao.
Dead enemies don’t kill poor fellows.
He would never have the courage to ask Yin Chen himself, so…
Assistant Zhong should just keep the bonus and continue doing his job.
Yin Chen had been in high spirits lately, practically glowing.
Like now, for example.
Seeing A’Mao’s message confirming the task was completed, he felt immense joy.
Even though Zong Cheng had been working overtime for the past seven days, sleeping alone each night, it didn’t affect his mood at all.
After all, Zong Cheng’s hard work to earn money was just too adorable!
There was just one minor downside.
Yin Chen picked up his phone, glanced at it, and sighed deeply.
Not only had he slept in his bed for a week, he hadn’t even played games in a week.
Even Zong Cheng’s “Abyssal Eye” had concluded last weekend.
For a moment, Yin Chen felt a twinge of emptiness.
Even though he had a boyfriend, he was living a life as if he didn’t.
He was mulling this over when he suddenly came across a message.
It was from Xie Liu.
“Hello, Mr. Yin. May I ask if you’ll be attending the Spring Finals this Saturday evening?”
“Huh?”
Xie Liu was actually inviting him to watch the match?
Yin Chen found it a little odd.
Sure enough, the message was genuinely from Xie Liu.
Before sending it, he had been racking his brains over it for a long time.
Coincidentally, Tang Chen came out to get hot water and saw his manager looking as if he was about to tear his own hair out, utterly stunned.
He thought for a moment, then cautiously spoke.
“So, uh, Xie Ge, actually, a lot of young people nowadays have problems with hair loss. I think… it’s better to keep hair a bit thicker, right?”
“You little brat, what nonsense are you talking about?”
Xie Liu couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.
Huh?
Wasn’t their manager stressed enough to pull his hair out?
This was perfectly normal and understandable in nature. Managers could admit that.
Tang Chen had a “you’ve done it, so why not admit it” expression.
This little brat.
Xie Liu, feeling helpless, only offered a casual explanation.
“You guys finally made it to the finals, right? I was thinking, maybe we should invite Mr. Yin to watch the final match. I don’t know why Mr. Yin established the team, but since there’s a chance to win the championship, wouldn’t it be better if he came to see it?”
He just didn’t know if Mr. Yin would be interested or free.
Recently, he had been following some financial news, which claimed that the Oriental Group’s stock market collapse overnight was somehow connected to Yin Group.
He didn’t know if that was true.
Even if it wasn’t, could a busy person like Mr. Yin have time to watch an esports match?
“Ah? That seems obvious, doesn’t it?”
“What kind of question is that?” Tang Chen looked baffled.
“Mr. Yin established a team because he loves games and wants to win the championship. You know he’s good at games himself. I’m sure he’d want to come watch.”
Tang Chen stated confidently.
“Really? Then should I send the message?”
Tang Chen’s logic seemed sound.
Xie Liu pondered, slowly composing a message.
Tang Chen stood by, poked the screen once, and Xie Liu’s hand trembled as the message was sent.
“It’s done!”
Xie Liu thought.
Tang Chen grabbed the hot water and ran off.
“Not done? Doesn’t matter—we’ll just have Mr. Yin come! We’ll do our best to win!”
“You little brat…”
Xie Liu pretended to chase him, took two steps, and laughed.
Well, since Tang Chen was so confident, it was a good thing.
After receiving the message, Yin Chen thought it over.
He decided to go.
Not only would he go, he would bring Zong Cheng, who was supposed to work overtime.
Once Zong Cheng understood the reason, he didn’t refuse.
Saturday night, Zong Cheng and Yin Chen sat together in the VIP audience seats.
The venue was full enough for five thousand spectators, with 25 competing teams in attendance.
“Tang Chen made it to the finals?”
Zong Cheng only realized tonight was the finals now, startled.
Huh?
You, as an older brother, didn’t know?
Yin Chen glanced at him.
“Didn’t you ask him?”
Zong Cheng instinctively shook his head.
“Things have just been too hectic lately.”
Understood.
Yin Chen understood.
But understanding aside, he gently pinched Zong Cheng’s finger, smiling.
“Even when busy, some things still deserve a little attention.”
He implied something.
Zong Cheng caught his gaze and understood.
He cleared his throat softly.
“I’ll make up for it when we get back.”
He had guessed correctly.
The waist exercises would continue—Yin Chen really liked it…
“Ladies and gentlemen in the audience…”
On stage, the enthusiastic host suddenly interrupted their conversation.
Yin Chen glanced up.
“Time to start.”
Zong Cheng nodded.
He noticed a few people in the VIP seats looking at them strangely.
He instinctively looked down.
Yin Chen was still playing with his fingers.
Zong Cheng frowned, scanning the people who had been peeking.
The culprits quickly averted their gaze.
Hmm?
Progress made.
Yin Chen sat beside him, watching with the corner of his eye, smiling silently.
On stage, the host rapidly introduced the two championship contenders.
Someone nearby suddenly spoke up.
“What a shame, Oriental Group has fallen apart. The original champion seed team ZWG had internal issues with several members and couldn’t compete. The remaining players don’t have proper new teams, and they’re all banned from the league for at least six months. The once-mighty ZWG is gone.”
Someone beside him responded.
“So what? Do you know ZWG’s fans? I heard over half the female fans turned against them. Probably hurt by ZWG’s reckless behavior.”
“Yeah, probably. Speaking of which, besides ZWG, didn’t Oriental Group have a new team? I heard that’s gone too.”
“Indeed, gone. That team was weak from the start. I recall they had scrimmages with BZ, and they lost.”
“Huh? But BZ isn’t weak—they made it to the finals. They look strong.”
“Strong or not, that team was weak, that’s for sure.”
As they spoke, one of them secretly glanced toward Yin Chen.
“Hey, did you see over there? Do you recognize that person?”
“Who?”
Another looked and hesitated.
“Is that a celebrity?”
Pretty good-looking.
The person rolled their eyes.
“The slimmer, prettier one? That’s the founder of BZ! BZ was established last year. Heard he’s a super-rich Mr. Yin! BZ’s base is one of his villas! That villa, I recall, was worth several hundred million!”
“Wow—so powerful?”
The other inhaled sharply, then asked curiously.
“And the person next to him, who is that?”
Gossiping, the other leaned closer.
“Apparently, that’s Mr. Yin’s boyfriend! Last year at Yin Group’s year-end party, he even came along!”
“Huh? Boyfriend?”
“Yes! Boyfriend! At the company’s year-end game event, employees had to play with Mr. Yin. If they killed him in-game, they got rewards. But the moment Mr. Yin and his boyfriend logged in… wow. Couple IDs! If they weren’t a couple, I’d eat my words!”
“Well, that’s not really our concern… we’re here to watch the match, right?”
The person was speechless at their friend’s words.
Damn! Watching a match isn’t meant for gossip!
No appreciation for subtlety!
Tch!
Hearing all this, Zong Cheng suddenly felt his heart race.
He seemed to have thought of a good plan.
A plan for proposing to Yin Chen.
Would Yin Chen like this plan?
Zong Cheng wasn’t sure.
“What are you looking at?”
Zhang Taining, about to put on headphones, looked oddly at Tang Chen.
Tang Chen quickly looked away from the VIP seats.
Nothing.
He saw nothing—certainly not the scene of Mr. Yin looking at his brother as if he had him completely figured out.