Chapter 14
As soon as Ye Xiyao arrived at the company, he was informed that he needed to wear AR equipment for a livestream at 1 PM in the afternoon, using holographic projection. During the livestream, there would definitely be staff members assisting him, but only Ye Xiyao would be visible on camera.
Because there was only one set of equipment, the livestream would directly capture Ye Xiyao’s character image in the AR dress-up game. To prevent Ye Xiyao from getting too nervous, Qiao Linchuan didn’t mention the previous friction they had with the person in charge on the other side. He only said that the most challenging part of this was that Ye Xiyao hadn’t had a chance to understand the product technology or experience its performance prior to today. It was like someone who had never handled a gun suddenly being sent to the battlefield.
Now, he had less than three hours to prepare, and their only request for Ye Xiyao was: “If there’s anything you don’t understand, it’s better to say nothing than to say too much.”
When Ye Xiyao learned about this, his first reaction wasn’t surprise or panic but rather to ask Qiao Linchuan, “I’ve never done a livestream before, and I haven’t worked with these products either. I’m still a new hire; will they accept me?”
“That’s a good question!” Qiao Linchuan’s mouth twitched, feeling both amused and helpless. “Of course, they were initially not accepting it.”
After all, they had prepared for a long time and had already done some preliminary warming up. Now to change the person at the last minute, especially to a newcomer who had just joined two days ago, they were understandably upset. In fact, they even told Qiao Linchuan over the phone that if this was how it was going to be, they would rather not do the livestream at all.
Ye Xiyao asked, “So how did they end up agreeing?”
Qiao Linchuan pointed to Xing Xu’s office, which had its door closed, and said, “With that person in charge, who would dare disagree?”
Ye Xiyao thought for a moment and showed a look of admiration. “Manager Xing persuaded them with feelings and reason?”
“Manager Xing didn’t do anything at all, he didn’t even need to show up.” Qiao Linchuan chuckled and said, “I just told them that you appearing was approved by manager Xing, and if they had any issues, they could directly go to him for communication.”
“Did they come to communicate?”
“They gave up struggling.”
Qiao Linchuan had a good grasp of their mentality; once Xing Xu’s name was mentioned, no one dared to say a word against it.
Xing Xu had always had a strong presence at Qiaoshou Technology. Even though he had never shown his face before, everyone knew he was the only relative of the big boss. Xue Qiao had mentioned more than once in various interviews that she worked hard for her career to ensure that Xing Xu could live a better life in the future.
Could such words be said to a nephew?
It was clearly like raising him as a son!
Moreover, everyone knew that Xing Xu had a notoriously bad temper. With such a strong backing and a dominant personality, who would dare to oppose someone he approved?
After hearing all this, Ye Xiyao sighed, “Manager Xing is really effective.”
“Of course.” Qiao Linchuan raised an eyebrow at him. “When you connect with them in the afternoon, if they try to put on airs, just bring up manager Xing.”
Ye Xiyao smiled. “Sounds good.”
Qiao Linchuan deliberately said these things to help Ye Xiyao relax, worrying that he would be tense under pressure. However, Qiao Linchuan soon realized that Ye Xiyao seemed to be more composed than himself and the other members of the department.
“Brother Qiao, the materials you gave me seem incomplete.” Ye Xiyao, unfazed, quickly checked the documents he had in hand and said, “Do you have more detailed information? Including the product manuals; please give me everything.”
Qiao Linchuan thought he was being silly and hurried to explain, “What we’ve sorted for you are the most critical points for presentation. Just memorizing their introductions would take a whole morning. What good is the manual? You won’t even have time to read through it, so just make sure to remember these key points. That should be enough for the livestream.”
Ye Xiyao flipped through the thin three pages of paper in his hand, quickly glanced through it from start to finish, and then said to Qiao Linchuan, “I’ve memorized it. Please give me the other materials as well; it never hurts to review more. Three hours is enough.”
Qiao Linchuan: “?”
Qiao Linchuan: “How did you memorize it just by looking at it once?”
Qiao Linchuan: “Ye Xiyao, tell me honestly, are you…?”
Ye Xiyao was startled.
Oh no, oh no, he had gotten too carried away. He was just thinking that this crucial moment needed to be perfect, wanting to avoid any mistakes, but he forgot that ordinary people can’t have such strong memory!
Was Qiao Linchuan suspecting he wasn’t human?
Qiao Linchuan: “—Are you hiding a Doraemon behind my back?”
Ye Xiyao: “…”
Well, that was a false alarm.
He replied with a dry excuse: “I just… have a good memory.”
It was unclear whether Qiao Linchuan really believed him, but in the end, he followed Ye Xiyao’s request and brought over the other folders as well. Altogether, there were five or six books, stacked to half a meter high.
When the others saw Qiao Linchuan handing over stacks of documents to Ye Xiyao, they had shocked expressions: “What, are you planning to kill Xiao Ye?”
Qiao Linchuan smiled mysteriously: “You don’t understand; Xiao Ye is a genius.”
As Ye Xiyao quickly flipped through the materials, he thought to himself ‘I’m is not a genius, I’m a charm demon.’
To prepare thoroughly, Ye Xiyao didn’t even stop for lunch, flipping through pages in the meeting room.
Seeing how serious he was, everyone felt quite guilty.
After all, this task was originally supposed to be theirs, but out of momentary frustration, it ended up on Ye Xiyao’s shoulders. And it was specifically chosen by Xing Xu. Now, it was too late to take the initiative to handle it.
To express their camaraderie, they stayed with Ye Xiyao in the meeting room.
“Xiao Ye, don’t be nervous; we’ll all be with you during the livestream.”
“Right, just treat it like a game… oh wait, no, you can’t play; you still have to do a good job with the promotional work.”
“Xu Xingyang, don’t put pressure on him!”
In reality, Ye Xiyao wasn’t nervous at all, but memorizing so many things in such a short time required him to focus.
However, he felt a bit awkward directly sending the enthusiastic seniors away, so he said to Qiao Linchuan, “Brother Qiao, it’s almost noon; why don’t you all go have lunch first and bring me a portion? I’d like the spicy hot pot I didn’t get to eat yesterday.”
His casual remark poked right at Qiao Linchuan and the others’ hearts.
They had originally planned to take Ye Xiyao out for a meal yesterday but forgot, feeling guilty now. Since Ye Xiyao had actively made a request, they couldn’t refuse. They were soon ushered out, clamoring to bring him the “deluxe beef hot pot set.”
As Ye Xiyao watched them leave, he knew that there was an 80% chance he wouldn’t actually get that deluxe spicy hot pot.
Because once everyone left him for a while, they would immediately forget what they had promised.
However, Ye Xiyao didn’t genuinely want the hot pot; he just wanted the surrounding area to be quieter. So he quickly buried himself in organizing the materials again.
Ye Xiyao was so engrossed that when the alarm he set rang, he realized there was only half an hour left until the livestream officially started.
Wait.
What about the people the other project companies sent to connect with him?
Why hadn’t they arrived yet?
Logically, they should have come to go over the process with him before noon, but there was still no sign of them.
Ye Xiyao felt a sense of unease.
He looked up and suddenly noticed a packaged hot pot on the table, which he didn’t remember putting there.
Ye Xiyao was shocked and temporarily set aside the connection matter, mumbling in surprise, “They actually didn’t forget?”
He leaned over to open the takeout box and, sure enough, it was the deluxe version with plenty of ingredients, a great mix of meat and vegetables, all deliciously appealing.
Ye Xiyao’s mouth watered instantly as he picked up his chopsticks to eat.
In his eagerness to save time, he ate quickly and accidentally burnt his mouth. He was gasping and sticking out his tongue.
Suddenly, a sigh echoed in the large meeting room.
“Eat slower.” Xing Xu was sitting at the furthest seat from Ye Xiyao, watching him with a half-smile, resting his chin on his hand. “Who’s competing with you?”
“…Ah.” Ye Xiyao was so surprised he almost dropped his chopsticks, staring at Xing Xu. “Ah!”
How could Xing Xu be here?
Did he come in while Ye Xiyao was focused on studying the materials? Had he been quietly accompanying him all this time?
Ye Xiyao felt a bit dazed.
Xing Xu asked him, “Is it good?”
Ye Xiyao instinctively replied, “It’s a bit spicy.”
Xing Xu nodded: “Got it.”
What does he know?
Does he know that he can’t handle spicy food?
Does he know what this is for? Does it mean next time… he will bring it for him again?
Ye Xiyao suddenly stood up with a start: “Manager Xing, did you pack my lunch?”
Xing Xu raised an eyebrow: “Otherwise?”
Saying this, he also stood up and walked toward Ye Xiyao.
In an instant, Ye Xiyao felt a surge of happiness.
How wonderful it is to have someone like Xing Xu as a friend! Not only does he bring an umbrella on rainy days, but he also brings food when Ye Xiyao is too absorbed in work to eat.
“Manager Xing, you really—” Ye Xiyao started to say but suddenly shut his mouth.
Xing Xu had walked right in front of him and asked, “What am I really?”
Ye Xiyao’s expression became a bit strange, his lips pressed tightly together.
He didn’t dare to speak again, even holding his breath.
Because as Xing Xu got closer, he suddenly caught a faint yet alluring fragrance.
It wasn’t the smell of food, but rather…
It was the scent of a person.
Ye Xiyao lowered his head, cold sweat secretly forming.
Xing Xu seemed to be saying something,
But Ye Xiyao couldn’t hear a single word.
His mind was filled with: It’s over; the aftereffects of using magic this morning are showing up!
He hadn’t smelled anything on others and thought the bit of power he used today was negligible, but Xing Xu’s soul turned out to be so much more powerful than an ordinary person’s.
When he was a distance away earlier, Ye Xiyao hadn’t noticed, but now that they were close, it was almost enough to make him drool.
Ye Xiyao suddenly sat back down and started to eat furiously.
He didn’t want Xing Xu to see him swallowing his saliva.
“Ye Xiyao.” Xing Xu suddenly placed his hand beside Ye Xiyao and leaned down slowly, almost touching Ye Xiyao’s ear, saying, “Can’t you hear me?”
“…!!” Ye Xiyao reacted sharply, kicking his feet and making the wheels of his chair roll as he flew two or three meters away with the chair.
Xing Xu: “?”
Ye Xiyao wanted to cry but had no way to explain to Xing Xu that his actions were just to protect him—he was afraid that being so close to Xing Xu would make him dizzy from the scent and lose control!
Ye Xiyao quietly moved to the window, trying to find a place to open.
In the end, he only found a small ventilation hole, so he crouched down there, desperately gasping for air.
Xing Xu looked down, his expression somewhat stiff, and sniffed himself…
He was sure that he had exercised and showered this morning and hadn’t been anywhere to pick up any strange odors.
Xing Xu’s face darkened as he walked toward Ye Xiyao.
However, each step he took closer made Ye Xiyao take a step back.
Finally, Xing Xu, slightly angry, cornered Ye Xiyao against the angle between the window and the wall, leaving him nowhere to retreat.
Ye Xiyao was frightened and pressed his chin down, quietly asking, “Manager Xing, what’s wrong?”
“I wanted to ask you what’s wrong?” Just as Xing Xu finished speaking, he saw Ye Xiyao suddenly cover his nose.
Xing Xu: “…”
This is a direct hit!
What on earth does he smell like that can make Ye Xiyao react this way?!
“Manager Xing, I—I have seasonal allergies and want to sneeze. Could you give me a moment…” Ye Xiyao said, covering his mouth and nose, his voice muffled.
Xing Xu clearly didn’t believe a word: “Take your hands away; let me see how allergic you are. If it’s serious, don’t work today, go to the hospital.”
“It’s not serious.” Ye Xiyao could only take his hands away, suppressing the craving surging from his heart and pretending to be calm. “I just need a two-minute break. The livestream is about to start, and I still need to contact the person in charge. Please let me step out to make a call.”
“Make the call right here.” Xing Xu deliberately leaned in a bit closer, almost pressing his body against Ye Xiyao’s.
Suddenly, Ye Xiyao let out a soft whimper.
Xing Xu thought he had misheard.
“Xing Xu…” Ye Xiyao lowered his voice, unsure if he was begging for mercy or if he had simply lost his strength, his tone gradually weakening, “I…”
Xing Xu continued to close the distance, not backing down an inch: “What’s wrong?”
“…I can’t stand.”
Before he finished speaking, Ye Xiyao’s body went limp, collapsing into Xing Xu’s arms.
Xing Xu instinctively caught him, and then believed he had seen through Ye Xiyao’s ploy: just moments ago, he was avoiding him, and now he was throwing himself into his embrace. It must be an act of feigned resistance, an attempt to draw him in.
Little did he know that Ye Xiyao felt utterly desperate at that moment.
He truly had no strength left.
Now that Xing Xu was supporting him, he felt not only weak but also an insistent itch in his lower back—damn it, he could even feel the magical markings slowly spreading.
Please stop holding me.
He really wanted to say this to Xing Xu.
But his body craved to get even closer.
“How long do you want to keep holding me like this?” Xing Xu wrapped his arms around Ye Xiyao’s waist, feeling that this body was truly peculiar. It looked thin, but it had softness where it should, and when he squeezed, his hand sank into the tender flesh.
Ye Xiyao shivered and quickly said, “I think I might be a bit overheated; I can’t stand anymore. Why don’t you… push me away?”
He had fallen into Xing Xu’s embrace, and now he wanted him to push him away.
Xing Xu playfully tightened his hold: “What if I don’t want to push you away?”
Let this demon think he is easy to ensnare, lowering the demon’s guard and prompting Ye Xiyao to reveal his vulnerabilities sooner.
Ye Xiyao felt like he was submerged in a pool of wine and feasting, his mouth filled with intoxicating nectar, and every breath was saturated with that overwhelming scent from Xing Xu’s soul.
Originally, Ye Xiyao felt fortunate that he had released less power this time than last and that the depletion wasn’t severe enough to cause him to lose control.
But Xing Xu was so close, holding him so tightly.
He simply couldn’t resist.
So Ye Xiyao nestled into Xing Xu’s neck, his nose pressed against Xing Xu’s chin, his lips brushing against his neck, greedily sucking and inhaling.
Not enough…
Just smelling this way wouldn’t satisfy him; he wanted to be filled even more.
“…I want to taste it,” Ye Xiyao’s voice was husky, his mind a muddle, unsure of what he was even saying.
Xing Xu asked, “What do you want to taste?”
Ye Xiyao exhaled a hot breath.
The burning warmth pressed against Xing Xu’s skin, making both of them feel somewhat heated.
“Ye Xiyao,” Xing Xu asked again in a deep voice, “what do you want to taste?”
You.
I want to taste you.
Ye Xiyao clenched his jaw, finally managing to suppress the mad thought from escaping his lips.
At that moment, a voice echoed from the hallway outside the conference room: “Excuse me, is anyone there? I’m Chen Mu, the operation manager of the AR dress-up game ‘Ke Da’.”
Ye Xiyao jolted, regaining his senses, and frantically pounded on Xing Xu’s chest: “Xing, Xing, Xing…”
In a moment of panic, he didn’t know whether to call him manager Xing or Xing Xu.
Xing Xu held his hand down, which was about to wave in agitation, and said, “What are you nervous about? Anyone who doesn’t know would think you’ve done something wrong.”
Ye Xiyao felt choked by his words. He looked at Xing Xu and then at himself; the way they were holding each other tightly, feeling tense was completely reasonable.
Moreover, Ye Xiyao had secretly been treating this human like a delicacy, swallowing his saliva at the thought of Xing Xu, which was indeed a guilty pleasure.
“Manager Xing, I need to go for the livestream,” Ye Xiyao had completely calmed down now and dared not let himself indulge in that embrace any longer.
But Xing Xu said, “Since you can’t stand, I can carry you there.”
Ye Xiyao was taken aback: “Huh?”
Isn’t it a bit too much for friends to go this far…?
Xing Xu’s hand slid from Ye Xiyao’s waist to the root of his leg, giving a light squeeze that felt almost casual, as if he was really about to pick him up.
Ye Xiyao panicked and called out, “Don’t…!”
But in the end, he was still lifted off the ground.
Xing Xu was so strong, and his embrace was so large that Ye Xiyao felt completely enveloped, unable to move. He trembled with anxiety.
—Xing Xu wouldn’t seriously think he was overheated, would he? Xing Xu wouldn’t really carry him to the livestream, would he?
In the next moment, Xing Xu leaned down and gently placed him in a chair.
Ye Xiyao stared at him in a daze.
Xing Xu chuckled: “Disappointed? You really wanted me to carry you?”
Ye Xiyao shook his head firmly: “No.”
At this moment, the person named Chen Mu finally found the conference room, and upon seeing someone inside, knocked on the door and said, “Sorry to interrupt, I’m looking for Qiao Linchuan, may I ask—”
His eyes first landed on Xing Xu, who was so tall and imposing that he momentarily forgot what he wanted to say.
With an outsider present, Ye Xiyao and Xing Xu both withdrew their gazes from each other, no longer continuing the previous topic.
“I’ll take my leave,” Xing Xu casually patted Ye Xiyao’s shoulder and, before leaving, dropped a seemingly ambiguous remark: “Ye Xiyao, you should stand a bit steadier in front of others.”
