Two days later, it was the day of the year-end summary meeting at Yunding Group.
The production team thought that this type of internal company meeting, which was rather commercial and professional, wouldn’t provide much material for filming. So, they planned to capture a scene of Xia Yang and Owen together.
“We’ll film you two bumping into each other at the staircase, talking about your impressions of entering the workplace,” the director suggested. “It can be a roast session or praise, but I suggest the former because it’ll generate topics.”
Owen nodded, expressing no objections. Xia Yang glanced at his watch and said seriously, “It’s 9:10 AM. Complaining in the stairwell during work hours isn’t slacking off, is it?”
Owen: “Pfft!”
Production Director: “…”
“Oh, my dear Yang Yang, who cares if you don’t emphasize it? Besides, this isn’t your company, so even if you slack off, it won’t go bankrupt.”
Xia Yang internally rolled his eyes, thinking this statement was so wrong.
This is their company, and as a family member, openly slacking off would be a bit disrespectful to the big boss at home.
However, despite his thoughts, since the director insisted, he didn’t argue further.
The cameras were set up, and Xia Yang and Owen took their positions, one going up the stairs and the other coming down, pretending to meet unexpectedly.
“Hi, what a coincidence!” Owen raised his hand in greeting.
“Quite a coincidence,” Xia Yang smiled, playing along.
Owen glanced at the production director, cleared his throat, and started, “We’ve both been interning at the same company for four days and haven’t seen each other. Shows how busy we are! How are you handling the 996 work schedule?”
Xia Yang frowned slightly, guessing that Owen was trying to steer the conversation towards the hated culture of overtime. But in reality, Han Yi’s company did not advocate such an inhumane work culture.
“Huh? Does that need adjusting?” he retorted, showing a curious and surprised expression. “In this company, I haven’t seen many people working day and night. They advocate efficient work and happy living, which I really like.”
Owen choked on his words, swallowing what he was about to say. After a long silence, he coughed and asked, “What do you think of your boss?”
“Visionary, capable, of good character, a walking money printer,” Xia Yang immediately praised without hesitation. “Oh, and also, his looks are out of this world, stunningly handsome.”
Owen: “…”
Production Director: “…”
Impressive.
They wanted to hear some complaints from the “employees” to create buzz, but it turned into a big praise session instead.
This…
“Hey, do you think there’s something between Xia Yang and that Han CEO? It sounds like he’s defending him like a family member,” one of the directors whispered, rubbing his temples.
“It’s possible,” the other director shrugged and sighed. “Remember? During filming two days ago, Han CEO also defended Xia Yang and even argued with us.”
“Oh, right!”
The two looked at each other, suddenly seeming to realize something. They slapped their thighs in unison.
“Damn! Are they trying to take an unconventional route?”
“Using a workplace variety show to follow a romance reality show formula, promoting a couple?”
“You get it; that’s definitely it!”
“Damn, then why are we even filming a roast session? Let’s start filming their mutual affection from tomorrow!”
…
After about ten minutes, filming suddenly stopped, leaving Xia Yang surprised and a bit unsatisfied.
He felt it was a shame not to release all the words he had in his mind to praise Han Yi.
“That’s it for today,” one of the directors said, smiling and patting his shoulder. “Hope you can still stick to your principles next time we film.”
Confused, Xia Yang: “?”
The production team wrapped up and returned to the station, generously giving him and Owen a half-day off.
After they left, Owen immediately approached him, “Wanna grab a drink, idol?”
This was his Nth time inviting him.
However, it was another refusal.
“I don’t want to go right now. I heard they’re having their year-end summary meeting in the main auditorium. I want to go listen,” Xia Yang said honestly.
Owen took a deep breath, his blue eyes widening in surprise.
But after being rejected so many times, he was used to it. After a moment of silence, he made a resolute decision.
“Then I’ll go to the auditorium with you, so you can’t refuse me.”
Xia Yang: “.”
The year-end summary meeting of Yunding Group was held in the main auditorium on the first floor. It had been going on for over an hour.
The two of them entered the elevator, pressed the button for the first floor, and just then, Xia Yang’s phone rang.
It was a WeChat message from Han Yi.
[Han Yi]: Are you at the company?
Xia Yang replied:
[Yang]: Yes.
[Han Yi]: Come to the auditorium now.
[Yang]: Yeah, I’m heading down the elevator, be there soon.
With a “ding,” the elevator doors opened, and they were directly opposite the main auditorium, where two reception staff stood outside.
Xia Yang and Owen walked over, and one of the receptionists gestured, guiding them inside.
The main auditorium was vast, divided into three sections, each packed with people, all focused on listening to the meeting.
A graceful woman was speaking on stage. From her speech, it seemed she was in charge of product and business.
“Gentlemen,” the receptionist whispered, “our leader has just instructed that you two should sit in the front row.”
“Huh?” Xia Yang was stunned, slightly nervous, looking in the direction the receptionist indicated. It was an empty seat next to Han Yi.
This was too conspicuous. As an outsider, he had unexpectedly become a VIP guest.
Owen, however, was delighted, nudging him from behind and whispering, “Come on, idol, look at how polite this big company is. We just arrived and got VIP treatment.”
“…”
Following the receptionist’s guidance, they walked to the designated seats in the front row. Just as they sat down, the female executive finished her report, and the host invited the next presenter to the stage.
Xia Yang noticed Han Yi sitting upright in his seat. As they approached, Han Yi turned his head slightly and winked at him.
In the brief two-second eye contact, Xia Yang quickly looked away, suppressing his racing heart, and sat down beside Han Yi.
As the next presenter adjusted their PowerPoint on stage, Xia Yang subtly moved closer to Han Yi and whispered, “Why did you arrange for me to sit here? It’s not very appropriate.”
Han Yi heard his words but didn’t respond. After a moment of silence, he lowered his arm and gently squeezed Xia Yang’s hand under the table.
“!!!”
Whoa! Xia Yang’s heart surged with a tumultuous wave.
Publicly flirting, this was too bold. With thousands of eyes behind them, what if someone saw…
He stiffened, not daring to move, his mind buzzing, and his chest pounding with a rapid heartbeat that echoed in his ears.
After a while, Han Yi released his hand. The person on stage finished their report, and the host, in high spirits, took the stage again, raising their voice, “Next, let’s invite our group chairman, Han Yi, to the stage!”
Applause erupted around them. Xia Yang took the opportunity to withdraw his hand, trying to maintain composure as he joined the applause.
He even made a cute gesture: “Go for it, all the best!”
Han Yi walked onto the stage, turning to face the thousands of employees below. Only then did Xia Yang steady his breathing and dare to look at him directly.
Today, Mr. Han wore a light gray suit, different from the usual formal and rigid business attire. This suit had subtle, twinkling starlight details on the hem, making it shine under the lights, almost like an evening gown.
He could faintly hear admirers from all directions saying, “Wow, Han CEO’s outfit today looks like he’s going on a date.”
On stage, Han Yi held a laser pointer, with a large LED screen behind him.
“Today, I’m here to share Yunding Group’s major new plan for the year. In six months, we will launch a brand-new luxury cruise ship, ‘Midsummer.'”
As he said this, he looked towards a particular spot in the audience. Though his face remained cold and handsome as usual, his eyes showed warmth and softness.
As their eyes met, Xia Yang instantly understood Han Yi’s meaning.
The lights on stage dimmed, and a 3D-rendered panoramic view of the giant cruise ship appeared on the screen.
A diamond-shaped glass cabin, nearly a hundred meters above sea level, stood majestically, beautifully framed by the blue sky and the sea.
As the night descended, moonlight and stars illuminated the ship, sparkling lights and shadows dancing on the surface as it gracefully sailed through the waves, captivating the eyes and hearts of all.
As the video ended, the lights came back on, and Han Yi pressed the laser pointer, revealing a logo on the screen.
“I designed this logo myself, distinct from our other cruise ship series logos, imbued with a special meaning.”
Xia Yang tilted his head, studying the logo, noticing that besides the Yunding Group logo, it incorporated an artistic font. The left side featured three vertical wave patterns, while the right side resembled a floral script, making it difficult to discern the exact character. It seemed elegant and playful…
As he looked closer, he suddenly sat up straight, rubbed his tired eyes, and realized the artistic font was his own name: “Yang.”
Xia Yang’s eyes started to heat up, unsure if it was from staring at the screen for too long or for some other reason. His heart felt as though it had been thrown into boiling water, thumping and splashing with emotion.
The “Midsummer” name contained “Xia,” the first character of his name, and “Yang,” hidden in the logo, a gesture only he could understand. This was a romantic sentiment meant for him alone.
The screen flickered, and beneath the logo, a line of small text appeared. Han Yi’s laser pointer highlighted the text as he read aloud in his deep, magnetic voice, “I sail through the waves because you are in the mountains and seas.”
The side profile of his face remained cold and indifferent, but the slight movement of his Adam’s apple betrayed his softness and affection.
“This is the inscription on the cover page of ‘Midsummer’s’ story. May it carry love and dreams across the seas!”
Thunderous applause erupted from the audience, lasting a long time. Xia Yang watched as Han Yi stepped down from the podium and returned to sit beside him.
He couldn’t calm down, his chest rising and falling as if pink butterflies fluttered around his heart.
With so many words in his throat, he moved his lips but couldn’t say a single one…
After the meeting, Han Yi had to record a New Year’s interview for the company’s website homepage.
By the time they finished, it was almost noon. As they exited the media studio, they ran into a crowd heading to the cafeteria.
“Good afternoon, Chairman Han.”
“Good afternoon, Chairman Han.”
Employees greeted him one after another as Han Yi walked straight to the elevator. Once inside, he took out his phone and sent a WeChat message to Xia Yang.
[Han Yi]: Where are you?
The elevator went straight to the 37th floor, but there was still no reply.
Han Yi opened the door to his office, finding no one there. He checked the adjacent reading room and gym but saw no one.
Puzzled, he turned around and spotted the young man in the multimedia room through the glass door. Xia Yang was sitting on the sofa, watching the wall projection.
It was the same 3D-rendered panoramic display of the “Midsummer” ship he had played in the auditorium.
Xia Yang’s eyes were wide open, watching intently, unaware that someone had entered.
Han Yi’s gaze softened. He walked over to the sofa, bent down, and embraced him from behind.
“Still watching? Do you like it?”
“Yes,” Xia Yang shivered slightly as Han Yi hugged him. He looked up at him, then pulled Han Yi’s arm around his shoulder, gesturing for him to sit beside him.
“I just watched one of your interviews from two years ago,” he said, his Adam’s apple moving as he repeated a sentence he remembered from the interview, “You said the cruise ship business was your lifelong passion and an endless pursuit.”
“Yes, I did say that,” Han Yi covered Xia Yang’s hand with his own, his eyes tracing Xia Yang’s features. “The cruise business is still my passion, but my lifelong pursuit has become you.”
“Would you be willing?” he asked softly.
Xia Yang’s eyelashes fluttered as he lowered his eyes, then looked up again, his expression softening with warmth. “I would.”
He had no reason to refuse; his heart had long been filled by the man before him…
Their gazes intertwined, becoming increasingly intense. The room, with the lights off, was shrouded in an atmosphere of tenderness and intimacy.
In that moment, their hearts connected. Xia Yang closed his eyes in acquiescence. The next second, Han Yi’s warm breath brushed against the corner of his lips, soft against soft, entwining gently.
On the wall, the “Midsummer” ship in the projection was slowly docking. Moonlight bathed the sea, casting a gentle glow that illuminated their faces and the lips pressed together in a tender kiss.
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