Chapter 12: The President and the Massage Chair 12

“President Shang, you have a fever!” Tang Bin said in a panic.

The original owner was a rough man in many ways and rarely got sick. Even when he did, he would usually just take some medicine and push through it. So, now that Shang Chengjun had a fever, Tang Bin had no idea what to do.

Shang Chengjun replied, “It’s fine. I still have some work to take care of at the company. Once I’m done, I’ll go home and rest.”

Hearing his hoarse voice, Tang Bin felt even more guilty.

He had already noticed that Shang Chengjun’s voice sounded off, but he didn’t realize that meant he was sick, so he hadn’t paid much attention to it.

If only he had been a bit more observant…

But then again, it probably wouldn’t have helped much.

He and Shang Chengjun were never close, to begin with. If it hadn’t been for the incident today, he wouldn’t have even known that Shang Chengjun was sick.

But if nothing had gone wrong today, Shang Chengjun wouldn’t have spent the entire morning here. He probably would have gone home to rest by now…

Tang Bin thought about it over and over, and in the end, he blamed himself, nearly crying again. His eyes turned red once more, looking like a frightened little rabbit with red eyes.

“I’m really fine,” Shang Chengjun said, reaching out his burning hand to ruffle Tang Bin’s head. The elevator arrived at the parking garage, and the door opened automatically. Shang Chengjun didn’t hurry to leave. Instead, he said to Tang Bin, “If you really feel bad about it, how about you call me after you’re done today?”

Although his voice was nasal, Shang Chengjun’s tone was still pleasant.

He smiled gently at Tang Bin, with a hint of mischief, as though he were luring a small animal hiding in a hole with bait.

Tang Bin, of course, fell for it. He quickly nodded and said, “Okay.”

He thought for a moment, then immediately corrected himself, “No, that’s not right.”

Shang Chengjun was surprised, “Hmm?”

Tang Bin lowered his head slightly, feeling embarrassed as he said, “I can take your call anytime. How about you call me when you’re done, President Shang?”

He didn’t know when Shang Chengjun would be free, and he worried that if he called after Shang Chengjun was done, it would disturb him.

Before, when he had called Shang Chengjun, he always felt uneasy, not wanting to trouble him by having him send lunch again, yet afraid that calling would disturb him…

Tang Bin was all too familiar with this feeling, so he thought, “Why not just let President Shang call me instead?”

There was no need to say anything, just to be told how he was doing.

Although, now that he thought about it… his request seemed a bit unreasonable.

After all, President Shang didn’t owe him any updates on his situation!

But, wasn’t it President Shang who told him to call? So, what could President Shang possibly want from him?

A myriad of thoughts flashed through Tang Bin’s mind, and he was startled by his own thoughts. He quickly looked up nervously, seeking Shang Chengjun’s reaction.

To Shang Chengjun, however, Tang Bin seemed like a shy young man, fidgeting in embarrassment.

He was both timid and bashful, yet there was a certain liveliness about him, especially in those round eyes that would occasionally sneak glances at him—everything about him exuded cuteness.

If it weren’t for the elevator door still being open, with a few of his bodyguards standing outside… Shang Chengjun really wanted to press this little creature, who couldn’t stop peeking at him, against the wall and shower him with affection.

Shang Chengjun licked his lips and said, “How about you skip work today and come with me to Ruida?”

“Huh?” Tang Bin blinked.

Forgive him, in his brief life experience, he had never heard the term “skip work.”

Over these past few days, Shang Chengjun had come to understand how dedicated and passionate the young man was about his work. He knew that asking such a thing would be difficult for Tang Bin, but now that he was sick, his willpower and self-control were much weaker than usual. At times like this, he just wanted to indulge himself and have Tang Bin stay by his side.

So, Shang Chengjun tempted him again, “The office should be pretty chaotic right now, especially after what happened today. Even if you take half a day off and don’t go, Mr. Yu won’t mind.”

“Oh.”

Tang Bin understood what Shang Chengjun meant. Under the circumstances, he certainly wasn’t in the mood to work either.

He nodded in agreement and took the elevator back to the office.

After the chaos of the morning, the overall atmosphere in the office had become extremely awkward.

When it was finally time for lunch, everyone quickly scattered, leaving the office unusually quiet, with hardly anyone around.

Even Mr. Yu was gone.

Tang Bin packed up his things and, after thinking for a moment, sent a message to Mr. Yu and the company’s part-time accountant in charge of HR to inform them he was taking the day off. Then he hurried to the underground parking lot to meet Shang Chengjun.

This was the first time Tang Bin had skipped work, and he felt a little anxious.

After all, in the past, anyone who left their post without prior approval would not only have their pay deducted but would also get a harsh scolding from Pang Yuqing.

But now, Pang Yuqing is no longer around… Tang Bin wasn’t sure what the consequences of skipping work would be, but whatever!

Sitting side by side with Shang Chengjun in the luxurious car with leather seats, Tang Bin’s heart couldn’t help but beat faster with excitement.

Shang Chengjun was already looking at some documents, and Tang Bin didn’t dare to disturb him. Although he felt inexplicably excited inside, he didn’t know where to place his hands and feet.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the crease in the corner of Shang Chengjun’s shirt that he had made earlier. He thought to himself: Well, it’s already wrinkled. So, almost by instinct, he reached out and pinched it again.

It seemed like Shang Chengjun’s body heat transferred to his hand, and Tang Bin instantly felt at ease.

He sat quietly next to him, silently staring at Shang Chengjun’s handsome and chiseled profile as he focused on his work.

Shang Chengjun returned to the company and held a meeting, primarily to finalize the specific execution details for the project he would be handling over the weekend in another city.

During this time, Tang Bin waited in his office, sipping the rose hip tea that the beautiful secretary had brought him.

Before leaving, Shang Chengjun instructed the secretary to order lunch for Tang Bin from the employee cafeteria.

The secretary, who had been following Shang Chengjun around lately, was already very familiar with Tang Bin’s preferences and tastes, as they had been discussing what to order for Mr. Le in detail.

By the time Tang Bin had finished his meal, Shang Chengjun had completed his meeting and returned.

“Let’s go,” Shang Chengjun said.

“Where to?”

“Back to my place.”

“Huh?”

“…I’m sick and need to rest.”

“Oh, oh, oh!” Tang Bin quickly stood up and saw that Shang Chengjun was already swiftly tidying up his desk, packing all the files into his bag, as if he were going to continue working from home.

Tang Bin hurriedly said, “Then let’s go quickly.”

“Okay,” Shang Chengjun replied.

Tang Bin recalled how Shang Chengjun had looked weak earlier and how he hadn’t eaten anything during the long meeting. He must be feeling very weak and drained by now.

So, tentatively, Tang Bin extended his arm and gently slipped it under Shang Chengjun’s elbow, making a motion as if he were offering to support him.

He carefully observed Shang Chengjun’s reaction, worried that this gesture might make him uncomfortable.

In fact, when Tang Bin wrapped his arm around Shang Chengjun’s, the latter’s reaction was quite intense.

—Shang Chengjun abruptly turned his head and looked at him.

But once their gazes met, Tang Bin relaxed.

Shang Chengjun’s eyes remained as gentle as ever.

“I… I’ll help you walk, President Shang,” Tang Bin stammered.

He wasn’t sure why he suddenly became nervous, and felt a little embarrassed. He couldn’t help but lower his head again.

However, Shang Chengjun tightened his arm around Tang Bin’s and didn’t allow him to pull away this time.

He smiled and said, “Okay. I really am feeling a little weak.”

As he said that, he leaned slightly toward Tang Bin, though not completely, just enough to give him a little of his weight.

When Shang Chengjun leaned into him, the proximity between the two became intimate, making it appear to others as though a slim young man was walking with his arm linked through Shang Chengjun’s.

The sight of Shang Chengjun bringing a young man back with him and then leaving the building with him in the elevator didn’t go unnoticed by many people.

As soon as Tang Bin and Shang Chengjun left, employees from Ruida couldn’t help but gossip: Who is that boy walking beside President Shang?

He looks so delicate, not very old.

And he even has to walk with his arm linked through President Shang’s… tsk, tsk, tsk.

Some employees, eager for gossip, began asking around and eventually got some information from Shang Chengjun’s secretary, Mei Jing.

Mei Jing was sitting behind her desk, her long legs crossed in a casual manner, looking every bit like a queen, and she cryptically said, “That person is most likely going to be our future President’s spouse.”

“Ah? President Shang’s significant other?” the person asked, stunned.

Those who were able to get on Mei Jing’s good side had decent positions in the company.

It was the first time they had heard that Shang Chengjun, who was typically indifferent and seemed entirely consumed by work, had someone special in his life.

Mei Jing, without hesitation, confidently replied, “Yes.”

Normally, she wouldn’t dare spread gossip about her boss, but given what she knew about Shang Chengjun, she understood that if he was openly bringing someone to the company and walking around linked arm-in-arm, it was clear he wanted everyone to know what their relationship was.

When it came to reading her boss’s intentions, Mei Jing considered herself unmatched in the company.

Since Shang Chengjun didn’t mind people knowing, she saw no reason to keep it a secret.

In a good mood, Mei Jing even shared two pieces of daily gossip about her boss—one, that Shang Chengjun had left work unusually early to go home that day, and before leaving, he even mentioned giving her a bonus, which naturally made her happy.

It wasn’t that she was hoping for her boss to get sick… well, even if he was sick, it was in the warmth of his lover’s company, so it was worth it.

Mei Jing silently prayed for her boss’s well-being.

“No wonder even someone like you, Secretary Mei, isn’t good enough for President Shang…” A sharp female voice interrupted their conversation. A woman in a tight dress, with long legs exposed, walked in arrogantly. “So Shang Chengjun actually likes men.”

“…”

Mei Jing greeted her, “Mr. Yu.”

The person was Yu Shanshan, a major shareholder in the company. Ruida had been founded with investment from the Yu family, which meant Yu Shanshan could easily appear anywhere in the building, including Mei Jing’s office.

Yu Shanshan, 30 years old and unmarried, had inherited her family’s business. She was a career-driven woman, and she had always had an interest in Shang Chengjun. Unfortunately, her feelings were unrequited, Shang Chengjun had never shown any interest in her.

Not only did Shang Chengjun not like her, but Mei Jing also didn’t think highly of her.

It all started when Yu Shanshan, who was beautiful, assumed Mei Jing must have had an affair with Shang Chengjun and had risen through the ranks due to unspoken rules.

Shang Chengjun had excellent qualifications—he was capable and handsome—but not everyone who saw him was drawn to him.

It’s unfortunate that a diligent and hardworking young woman like Mei Jing was slandered in such a way. It was already commendable that she didn’t harbor hatred for Yu Shanshan, so she wouldn’t be particularly warm when meeting her.

“I’m really curious about the kind of person President Shang would like,” Yu Shanshan said.

“Does President Shang even like someone?” After everyone greeted Yu Shanshan, they quickly dispersed. 

Mei Jing, who had inherited her boss’s thick skin, stared and lied, “I don’t know.”

Although Shang Chengjun clearly didn’t mind if people knew about the person he brought back, Yu Shanshan was treacherous and extremely jealous. Mei Jing instinctively felt the need to protect her boss from this woman.

As for herself, since Yu Shanshan hadn’t managed to get rid of her before, she wouldn’t be able to in the future either.

“Hmph.” Yu Shanshan sneered, her expression seductive but her eyes filled with malice. “Where is President Shang? I want to see him!”

“President Shang just stepped out for something. If you need anything, you can tell me, and I’ll report it to him later,” Mei Jing said, her tone calm and professional.

“No need. I’ll call him myself.” Yu Shanshan looked angry as she walked off, and the colleagues who had previously scattered quickly gathered around, giving Mei Jing a thumbs up.

“Still, our Secretary Mei is amazing. She handled that witch with ease!”

However, Mei Jing didn’t seem pleased. In fact, she wore a look of deep concern.

She knew exactly what Yu Shanshan was capable of. It was only after proving her own innocence with Shang Chengjun that she had been left alone.

Although Shang Chengjun had never cared about Yu Shanshan, Le Yang seemed like an easy target, and Mei Jing wasn’t sure what the future would hold for him…

Back at Shang Chengjun’s home, Tang Bin urged him to lie down quickly, then walked around the house to see if there was anything he could help with.

After walking around, Tang Bin was a little confused.

Shang Chengjun’s house was much larger than the shared apartment he had with Long Ke, and the decor was pristine and all white.

—It was too white. Aside from the TV screen, which was off, and a few kitchen items, Tang Bin couldn’t see any other colors in the house.

It was also empty, with no extra decorations and a complete lack of liveliness.

Tang Bin couldn’t quite describe the feeling, but as soon as he stepped into the house, something about it felt off. He couldn’t help but think that Shang Chengjun couldn’t possibly be happy living here.

Although the kitchen was fully equipped with pots, bowls, and small appliances, everything was arranged so neatly that it seemed like it was rarely used.

Tang Bin boiled some water on the gas stove and, in the meantime, searched online for how to take care of a sick person.

The advice on the internet was all over the place. Aside from suggestions to drink more hot water and take the patient to a doctor, nothing else seemed helpful.

That’s when Tang Bin realized he should have suggested to Shang Chengjun that he go to the hospital.

Right, if he’s sick, he should definitely go to the hospital.

How could he not have thought of that earlier?

Tang Bin felt frustrated as he ran into Shang Chengjun’s bedroom, ready to take him to the hospital.

Shang Chengjun was lying on the bed, covered with a thin blanket, eyes closed and motionless. His face was pale, and he looked so weak that, at a glance, he appeared almost lifeless.

This scared Tang Bin.

“President Shang, are you alright?!” He rushed to Shang Chengjun’s bedside, his voice choked with concern. “Please don’t scare me, let’s go to the hospital…”

“…I’m fine.” Shang Chengjun’s voice was faint. What little strength he had left was due to him forcing himself earlier, but now he seemed like a deflated balloon.

He reached out and grabbed Tang Bin’s hand, his voice weak as he said, “I’m just a little cold. Do you mind coming up here and holding me for a while?”

“Huh? Oh, okay!” Without thinking, Tang Bin quickly climbed onto the bed.

Before he knew it, he was pulled into the blankets by Shang Chengjun.

A long arm wrapped around his waist, and their chests were pressed together, causing Tang Bin to feel the vibrations of Shang Chengjun’s chest.

Shang Chengjun said, “I have a special constitution, I won’t infect you, so don’t worry.”

“It’s… it’s fine, President Shang. Even if you infect me, I’m not afraid.” As long as it makes you feel a little better, Tang Bin thought silently.

The entire bedroom fell into silence.

At first, Tang Bin lay stiffly in Shang Chengjun’s arms, too nervous to move. But as time passed, he started to feel sleepy—the bed and pillow, though simple, were surprisingly comfortable.

He thought this to himself just before drifting off to sleep.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already dark outside.

He had slept most of the afternoon, and yet he hadn’t woken up naturally.

Tang Bin was awakened by the sound of his phone ringing.

Hearing the familiar ringtone, Tang Bin remembered his phone was still in his bag, and he hadn’t taken it out.

Not wanting to wake Shang Chengjun, he carefully slipped out from the arm still wrapped around him, then nimbly rolled off the side of the bed and tiptoed out of the bedroom to grab his phone.

The ringtone continued, and when he saw the caller ID, he realized it was his roommate, Long Ke.

“Hello?” Tang Bin answered in a sleepy voice.

“…What are you doing? Why do you sound so tired?” Long Ke asked curiously on the other end.

“Oh, I was just sleeping.” Tang Bin yawned.

“…You didn’t come home after work, where are you sleeping?”

“…”

Tang Bin glanced at the time… it was already almost seven o’clock in the evening! How many hours had he slept?

He hurriedly explained to Long Ke, “No, I took the afternoon off, I was just lying down with someone…”

“Ah, sure, big brother.” Long Ke interrupted him with a mischievous chuckle. “So, you’ve figured it out, you’re gonna live off that, huh?”

Tang Bin: “…”

From watching certain videos, he already understood what Long Ke meant by “that.”

Tang Bin’s face instantly turned bright red. He quickly defended himself, “No! It’s not what you think!”

“Hey, I’m just messing with you.” Long Ke laughed. “Your face is fine, but as for the body… if you want to live off that, you’ll need to work on it a bit more.”

Tang Bin: “…”

“No, it’s because President Shang is sick. He said he was cold, so I just lay with him for a while!” Tang Bin explained awkwardly.

“…So you took the afternoon off to take care of your crush?” Long Ke teased, knowing that the “President Shang” Tang Bin referred to was the person he was secretly pursuing.

“Yeah,” Tang Bin said, embarrassed, instinctively burying his face.

Long Ke continued, “You’re good at this, getting in with the enemy so quickly! I’m telling you, when someone’s sick, they’re most vulnerable. Just keep sticking close to her, and you’ll definitely end up with her… I mean, your crush.”

“…”

Tang Bin froze for a moment, suddenly realizing that up until now, from the moment he learned Shang Chengjun was sick until this point, he had completely forgotten to focus on the main task of sticking close to the male lead!

It was such an important task, and he hadn’t thought about it at all!

Fortunately, he had been so concerned about Shang Chengjun’s health that it ended up working out… Tang Bin thought to himself that he couldn’t be so careless anymore. From now on, he had to always keep the mission in mind—stick close, stick close!

【Hahaha, Host, you’re too cute.】 The usually indifferent system let out an awkward laugh. It must not laugh often, because the sound was grating.

“?” Tang Bin raised a question mark in his mind, not understanding what 3376 meant.

【Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just here to report today’s gains.】 The system returned to its usual serious tone. 【The daily settlement is complete, congratulations, Host! You’ve earned thirty landmines, sixteen grenades, eight rocket launchers, one underwater torpedo, and two depth charges!】

Tang Bin: “So… so much…”

Thinking about how all of these items would turn into real money in his pocket, Tang Bin blushed with excitement. “How come there’s so much?!”

【Maybe it’s because the Host is just too cute.】 3376 responded, its tone now back to its usual indifferent coldness, making its praise sound even more detached. 【Please keep up the good work!】