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Chapter 101: Chen Wengang smiled and gave him a good morning kiss.
The Huo family’s foundation was located in the Huo Building, an area bustling with activity and traffic.
Fang Qin, well-maintained and with a gentle appearance, had her hair neatly tied up. She got out of the car and shook hands with Chen Wengang. Because she was pregnant, she wore wedge shoes and almost tripped over a clumsy intern rushing by when she exited the elevator.
Chen Wengang was also startled, but fortunately, he was quick and steady, catching her with one swift motion.
Fang Qin regained her composure and gave him a smile. “Thank you.”
They walked into the building. She took Chen Wengang to the top floor first. “This building is owned by the Huo Corporation. Floors 20 to 30 are used by the group’s headquarters, and the 19th floor is where the foundation’s office is located. The floors below are all rented out.”
Chen Wengang knew Huo Corporation was wealthy. “In this area, the rent isn’t cheap, right?”
Fang Qin smiled. “That’s right. Over there is the chairman’s office, but Dad isn’t here today. Let’s go down.”
Chen Wengang glanced at the general manager’s office, which was Huo Zhenfei’s place, and the door was tightly closed.
They visited a few main departments and made their way to the 19th floor.
Upon exiting the elevator, they saw the gilded sign “Huo Foundation.” There weren’t many people, and it was quiet.
As they walked, Fang Qin introduced, “Besides the vice chairman and me who are full-time, the other directors are part-time, so they don’t appear often. The vice chairman also serves as the secretary-general… Here he comes, this is the vice chairman, Huo Lingchong.”
A young, elite-looking man approached. Fang Qin stopped him and introduced the two. “Lingchong, this is Chen Wengang.”
Huo Lingchong was a grandson of Huo Kaishan’s cousin, but among several uncles, he had the closest relationship with Second Uncle Huo. He sized up Chen Wengang, as this was his first time meeting Huo Niansheng’s rumored companion, but he did not know that Chen Wengang had known him long ago, in a previous life.
At this moment, the suit-clad young man had a haughty expression and extended his hand as if bestowing charity. “Hello.”
Chen Wengang suddenly smiled warmly and shook his hand amicably.
Huo Lingchong quickly withdrew his hand, feeling that even speaking another word was beneath him. “Sister-in-law, I have other things to do.”
Fang Qin paused slightly and smiled diplomatically. “Alright, you go ahead.”
She led Chen Wengang to her office, a large suite with an outer room that could be divided for his use.
“Your routine work won’t be particularly busy. If you have any questions about regular tasks, you can ask Lingchong for guidance.”
Fang Qin sorted out the tasks she needed to hand over to Chen Wengang.
She had two assistants, a young man and a young woman, Xiao Gao and Xiao Li, both looking quite fresh-faced. They usually organized the documents for her to sign. In summary, Chen Wengang just needed to review everything beforehand, handle minor matters himself, and pick out important issues to consult with her.
By the time they were almost done, it was nearly noon.
Fang Qin smiled and led the way to lunch. “Come on, let’s see how the food is.”
Huo Corporation had its own employee cafeteria, and the standard of meals at the headquarters was quite high. Various dishes were lined up buffet-style, incomparable to the special education school. However, at the school, teachers and school workers sat together, while here the hierarchy was quite distinct.
The company’s executives had separate private rooms, and management above the middle level had a designated area, separated from regular employees.
One side had glass dining tables, the other side had plastic tables and chairs. Chen Wengang paused, waiting to see which area Fang Qin would take him to.
At that moment, Huo Zhenfei came out of a private room. “You two, come in.”
Inside the room, a group of high-level executives was already seated.
They were all heavyweight figures with director or supervisor positions, except for Huo Zhenfei, the average age was above middle age. Looking around, the atmosphere was quite oppressive. For a moment, Chen Wengang even wondered if this was a trap set by Huo Zhenfei.
It’s hard to say. These old folks didn’t stare at Chen Wengang with overt disdain or unusual expressions, but they had no topics in common with him either, treating him like he was invisible while they chatted and laughed among themselves. Only Huo Zhenfei and his wife occasionally said a few words to him.
Chen Wengang remained calm and finished the meal. When he returned to the 19th floor, he completed the necessary procedures.
That evening, back home, Huo Niansheng laughed so hard he fell on the bed. “Those old guys, they really know how to put on airs.”
He used a tone as if scolding a child to reprimand Huo Zhenfei, “How could he be like that? Forget it, don’t go, if you don’t want to go.”
Chen Wengang, after taking a bath, lay on the bed flipping through a magazine. He looked up at him, a smile spreading from the corners of his eyes to his eyebrows.
He tossed aside the finance magazine, turned over, and lay on Huo Niansheng’s chest.
Huo Niansheng, accustomed to this, placed his hand on the back of Chen Wengang’s head, pressing him closer. Chen Wengang closed his eyes, listening to his strong heartbeat.
He felt an unparalleled tranquility in his heart, and nothing troublesome could occupy even a bit of space.
But then again, Chen Wengang knew that Huo Zhenfei indeed wanted to persuade him to agree to sign a concerted action agreement. He didn’t overtly pressure him, but in an unfamiliar and restrained environment, it was easy for people to regard the only familiar person as trustworthy.
Huo Zhenfei was good at reading people; he knew Chen Wengang was more receptive to gentle persuasion rather than force. Chen Wengang couldn’t help but smile at his little scheme.
If he were in his twenties, he might not have developed such thick skin—
Now he felt it didn’t matter. “I still have to go, the procedures are all done. Besides, it’s not like he has any leverage over me. Instead, he has to guess my intentions every day. What’s there to be afraid of in such an amusing situation?”
Huo Niansheng pinched his earlobe. “When do you need to start going?”
Chen Wengang replied, “Starting next Monday.”
There was a breeze at night. Something fell in the yard with a clang, and he got up, put on a coat, and went out to check.
When he returned, Chen Wengang thought about it and discussed it with Huo Niansheng, “Should we move to your apartment? It’s closer to your work.”
Originally, they lived here for Chen Wengang’s convenience to go to school. Now, Huo Niansheng officially holds the title of chairman of a subsidiary. The subsidiary’s business was different and located in a different place from the headquarters, but not far apart, both in the CBD area.
Unexpectedly, Huo Niansheng had grown fond of living here and lazily didn’t want to move. “I need to take care of the flowers.”
Chen Wengang couldn’t help but laugh. “We could ask Lu Chenlong to come and take care of them.”
Huo Niansheng found another reason to disagree. “What about your class reunion?”
Chen Wengang’s eyes widened. “When did I agree to go?”
But Huo Niansheng was very stubborn. “Why not go? Take me to show off.”
Chen Wengang couldn’t help but laugh.
That evening, as usual, the two of them went for a walk by the river, and Chen Wengang ran into his elementary school classmate, Cheng Bo. Cheng Bo was newly married, and had his wife in his arms. Probably feeling proud of his own life, he insisted that Chen Wengang must attend the rare class reunion organized after so many years. Then his eyes lit up, and he offered to introduce some pretty girls to him, specifically the bridesmaids from last time.
Most of the neighbors in the old neighborhood were elderly and conservative. Chen Wengang and Huo Niansheng often came and went together. Apart from holding hands, they rarely showed affection in public. Some people tacitly understood and didn’t ask much, while others stubbornly believed that he had taken the wrong path.
Cheng Bo was not very old, but his straight male mindset was deeply ingrained.
He had overheard some gossip and came to a very natural conclusion: it was because a better option had not appeared.
For men, introduce a few pretty girls, and who would remember anything else after meeting them?
This provoked Huo Niansheng, who even held a grudge and pestered Chen Wengang, “Do you really not want to go, or is it because you’re ashamed of me and deliberately not taking me, planning to secretly let him introduce the girls to you?”
Chen Wengang was not at all annoyed. He kept saying, “Okay, okay,” and then turned off the light and closed his eyes.
After a while, he chuckled, pinched Huo Niansheng, and finally, his breathing gradually became steady.
He slept early, but Huo Niansheng was never one to go to bed early. Leaning against the headboard, he absentmindedly played with his phone.
In fact, the old house had its advantages. This neighborhood wasn’t plagued by constant light pollution or flickering neon signs. The weak streetlights couldn’t penetrate the houses. When the moonlight crept in through the window, it became particularly prominent.
The silver light slowly enveloped the sleeping profile of Chen Wengang.
Huo Niansheng lowered his gaze. There was something he had never told Chen Wengang.
He had been dreaming more frequently, nightmares filled with troubling past events and increasingly inexplicable details.
Huo Niansheng owned more than one property. As an investment, Yunding Tower was not his favorite asset, let alone a place for long-term residence. Yet after returning to the country, for some reason, he had the driver take him directly there from the airport.
Standing in the empty room, his heart felt empty too, as if something was missing. This place held an inexplicable special attachment for him. After a week of watching the night view, he simply attributed this attachment to the nice scenery.
At that time, he couldn’t figure out what the apartment was lacking, but now Huo Niansheng preferred Jiangchao Street.
He put his phone on the bedside table and kissed Chen Wengang on the forehead.
In the morning, it was Chen Wengang’s turn to pat him. “Wake up.”
Chen Wengang had a regular routine, whereas Huo Niansheng wouldn’t sleep before midnight and naturally couldn’t get up as early as he did.
One or two days were fine, but after living together for a long time, this irreconcilable difference became apparent. Opening his eyes groggily, Huo Niansheng was already beginning to worry if, at this rate, they would end up fighting over this when the seven-year itch came around.
In the dim morning light, Chen Wengang smiled and gave him a good morning kiss, while the aroma of rice porridge drifted in from outside.
Huo Niansheng decided to let it go; they’d cross that bridge when they came to it.
***
A new week began, and it was the day for Chen Wengang to officially start his new role.
Saying he was “officially starting” was somewhat exaggerated. The 19th floor of the Huo Building remained quiet, as if it had never experienced a hectic moment. No one seemed to be eagerly awaiting his arrival, as there was no shortage of staff.
Passing by the crystal sign displaying the organizational structure, Chen Wengang stood under it for a while.
In family-run charitable institutions like this, the founders and funders were the entire family, and important positions were often held by family members.
But if not strictly managed, the foundation could easily become a place to park people. Besides the part-time directors who only showed up when needed, the ones usually staying here were the idle younger family members and the hardworking junior employees who did all the work.
Fang Qin told him to arrive by nine in the morning. Apart from a few administrative staff and her honest-looking assistant, Xiao Li, it wasn’t until ten that the other assistant, Xiao Gao, showed up yawning, and the other young masters and misses were nowhere to be seen.
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