Chapter 16

Shen Zhizhe seemed to have been choked up, as he didn’t reply to the message.

Chi Xiting glanced at it a couple of times but didn’t pay much attention, instead opening the document Shen Zhizhe had sent.

The project in City C was a brand promotion and marketing campaign for the classic watch brand SPN.

The watch brand is under the Chu family, and when it was first launched, it was heavily promoted by Chu, pouring a lot of manpower, resources, and funds into it. Within just a few years, SPN became one of the top watch brands in the country. However, in recent years, with the Chu family’s shift in focus to other fields, SPN gradually declined, with its influence and revenue also taking a downturn.

The branch in City C only received instructions from the headquarters this year, intending to revitalize SPN. They spent a lot of time with the R&D and design departments to create a new watch that would fit modern aesthetics. With the strong foundation of Chu’s team, the design process went smoothly. However, they didn’t anticipate that there would be issues with the promotion.

The plans went through several revisions, and after finally reaching the stage of implementation, there were so many errors that it directly angered the higher-ups. Without regard for the losses, they called for a stop and ordered a complete rewrite of the plan.

Chi Xiting had already reviewed two versions of the plan in Shen Zhizhe’s office. They could only be described as lacking, and the revised version was worse than the first one.

The main issue was the direction of the promotion.

Chi Xiting spent quite a bit of time reviewing the design drawings for the new product and analyzing the design style. He found that the visual plan for the brand’s graphics was too weak and didn’t focus on the unique features of the new product to create distinctive and attractive visual elements.

In other words, it lacked appeal and recognition.

This is a major mistake in promoting a new product.

And this was for something like a watch, which is an everyday item.

There are many competitors in the market, with high substitutability. Without highlighting the individual characteristics, the promotion is unlikely to achieve the desired effect.

While looking through the project proposal, Chi Xiting came up with a general plan.

The feasibility should be quite good.

Chi Xiting’s creativity flowed, and he quickly put together a draft of the plan, from visual concepts to plans for promoting it through both new and traditional media. The structure was clear, with each section simply highlighting the key points.

Chi Xiting glanced at the time.

—–

It was already 4:50.

When busy, time really flies.

He saved the document and, without any hesitation, decided to continue working on it tomorrow.

The deadline Shen Zhizhe gave him was one week.

If he didn’t finish, he would do it tomorrow.

With some luck, maybe if he died tomorrow, he wouldn’t have to do it at all.

Chi Xiting refreshed his computer twice, waiting for time to pass, and then clocked out exactly on time.

There was no way he was staying late.

As he was about to leave, Chi Heyuan, who had been missing for several days, suddenly sent a message.

Chi Heyuan: Don’t leave yet, wait for me.

Chi Xiting quickly checked the time.

—–

It was 4:58.

He replied.

Chi Xiting: Can you get to the first floor in two minutes?

Chi Heyuan: “…”

Haha.

Two minutes.

If he jumped from the 30th floor, he’d probably get there in time.

Chi Heyuan: Damn, what would it cost you to leave a few minutes later?

Chi Xiting: It would cost me my life.

The workplace drains my vitality.

Chi Heyuan: Wait for me on the first floor, my parents are coming back today. Let’s have dinner together tonight.

Chi Heyuan didn’t want to argue with Chi Xiting, so he sent a notification.

Parents?

Chi Xiting paused and unconsciously recalled the phone call he made when he was sick.

The phone was likely answered by his original mother.

Her voice was very gentle, and she deliberately softened her tone. Even through the phone line, he could feel her concern and love.

Chi Xiting had never heard such a gentle voice.

He had never experienced such a genuine motherly love.

Chi Xiting blinked slowly and, without knowing why, he tapped the screen twice.

After replying to Chi Heyuan’s message, Chi Xiting glanced at the time.

—-

It was 5:00.

As usual, he didn’t linger. He quickly packed up, got up, and expertly turned off the computer, pushed in his chair, and left the office without looking back.

The C-group office was at the end of the corridor, and to get to the elevator, he had to pass the A-group and Shen Zhizhe’s office. As he walked past the A-group office, he casually glanced inside and happened to see Huo You Shen sitting at his desk, pressing his lips together while working.

The atmosphere in the A-group office was similar to C-group’s: quiet, everyone busy with their own work, and no one noticed it was already time to clock out.

Sigh.

No matter how good the benefits or how humane the company, once you become a corporate slave, you can’t avoid being tamed.

Tamed by work, by the atmosphere, and by colleagues.

Chi Xiting quickly withdrew his gaze and, as he turned the corner, he bumped into Wu Muliang.

“Are you off work?” Wu Muliang frowned at Chi Xiting, raising his voice sharply, which made it sound very piercing.

Chi Xiting tightened the straps of his bag, lifted it slightly, and raised an eyebrow. “Yeah.”

Wu Muliang looked Chi Xiting up and down with a sneer in his eyes. Just as he was about to make a sarcastic remark, he seemed to notice something in his peripheral vision. His mouth shut, and his gaze flickered as he said, “You’re leaving so early? Did you finish all your work?”

What kind of leadership is that?

“Or else?” Chi Xiting tilted his head, giving Wu Muliang a strange look. “You’re leaving so late, planning to become the boss?”

Wu Mu Liang: “…”

“You…” Wu Mu Liang sputtered for a while, trying to raise his hand to point at Chi Xiting, but as soon as he lifted it, he put it down awkwardly, his gaze drifting away from Chi Xiting’s face.

Even Chi Xiting, who was usually slow to catch on, noticed something off with Wu Mu Liang. He turned around to take a look.

Shen Zhizhe’s hand was still on the door, standing casually in the doorway, watching the two of them. When Chi Xiting looked over, Shen Zhizhe nodded at him with a natural expression.

Chi Xiting: “…”

What a kid.

Still trying to play games with him?

Chi Xiting turned back to Wu Mu Liang with a more absurd and confused expression.

Wu Mu Liang quickly pursed his lips, then smiled brightly at Shen Zhizhe. “Good evening, Manager Shen.”

“Mm.” Shen Zhizhe nodded.

Wu Mu Liang fiddled with his collar and glanced at Chi Xiting with a hint of pride, then turned back to Shen Zhizhe. “Well, Manager Shen, I’ll go back to work now. I won’t disturb you.”

Shen Zhizhe raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t it already time to clock out? You should head home.”

Wu Mu Liang froze, blinking in surprise.

Shen Zhizhe smiled and waved his hand toward Wu Mu Liang, signaling that he could leave.

Was he really letting him go alone?

Wu Mu Liang glanced at Shen Zhizhe, then subtly shot a suspicious and disgusted look at Chi Xiting.

As expected.

There was definitely something shady between Chi Xiting and Shen Zhizhe.

Wu Mu Liang stiffly returned to the office.

Shen Zhizhe tapped his fingers on the door frame twice and then told Chi Xiting, “Alright, you can leave now too.”

Chi Xiting looked at Shen Zhizhe, his expression a little subtle.

Shen Zhizhe chuckled and said, “What? Chushi isn’t a company that maliciously exploits employees, and there’s no culture of forced overtime. When it’s time to leave, just go.”

Chushi doesn’t encourage overtime. In fact, every quarter, Chuyu emphasizes the issue of overtime, urging departments to minimize employees’ overtime hours.

However, when the workload is heavy, overtime is unavoidable.

Besides, there are always a few people in every department who lead by example and “force” others to stay and work.

—–

In these situations, Shen Zhizhe can’t do much about it.

He can’t just scold people and force them out of the company when it’s time to leave.

Chi Xiting stopped pondering and simply said “Oh” before raising his hand to wave at Shen Zhizhe, saying goodbye.

Shen Zhizhe smiled and closed the door.

It was already past 5:05 when Chi Xiting reached the first floor.

Chi Heyuan hadn’t arrived yet.

As expected, wasting time.

Chi Xiting punched out and found a seat in the lobby, lazily sinking into the couch to wait for Chi Heyuan. Just as he closed his eyes to rest, a sharp snap of fingers sounded in his ears.

Chi Xiting jumped in surprise and quickly opened his eyes, just in time to meet Chi Heyuan’s gaze as he looked down at him.

Chi Heyuan wasn’t wearing a hat today. His hair was simply styled with some gel and had gotten a little messy after a whole day. His bangs were disheveled, brushing past his eyes, his dark hair and bright eyes making him look handsome. Seeing that he had startled Chi Xiting, the corner of his mouth involuntarily lifted, but upon noticing it, he quickly suppressed the smile and put on a displeased expression, saying, “So lazy, just sitting here waiting for a few minutes?”

Chi Xiting retracted his gaze and lazily stretched, saying, “What can I do? I’m too exhausted, my butt’s already glued to this chair.”

Laziness was his default trait.

If he could, he’d stay in bed for life.

Oh no.

He’d need a phone too.

While his addiction to sleep was strong, his internet addiction was equally considerable.

Chi Heyuan rolled his eyes at Chi Xiting and kicked the couch underneath him, saying, “Let’s go.”

It wasn’t a short trip.

Their parents lived in Qinghu District, far from the city center. It would take at least 40 minutes by car, and that’s assuming there’s no traffic.

Now it was the evening rush hour, so who knew how long they’d be stuck in traffic.

Sigh.

Work was exhausting enough.

Now they had to drive for so long.

Chi Heyuan stretched his neck, muttering to himself, “Probably at least an hour, exhausting.”

“Don’t worry.” Chi Xiting glanced at Chi Heyuan, his tone deadpan. “You won’t die.”

Chi Heyuan frowned, looking at him: “?”

Chi Xiting slowly replied, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, the faint outline of a dimple appearing on his left cheek. “I think a 60-second ad will bring you back to life.”

Chi Heyuan: “…”

Idiot.

Chi Heyuan couldn’t help but laugh in frustration, shaking his head. The strange thing was that, despite the ridiculous conversation, he felt some kind of subtle enjoyment and other emotions from it.

Although he and Chi Xiting had grown up together, he’d never gained any emotional value or any other feelings from Chi Xiting.

Chi Xiting didn’t feel like an older brother, nor a friend, nor a relative.

Even though they had shared a room and grown up together, Chi Heyuan always felt there was a distance between them.

And he had never seen Chi Xiting so lively.

This way of interacting felt…

Quite special.

“Let’s go.” Chi Heyuan couldn’t help it, reaching over to snap his fingers near Chi Xiting’s ear. With a sharp snap, Chi Heyuan’s voice, now laced with a bit of amusement, echoed, “Adman.”