Chapter 23

The first-class cabin fell silent once again.

No one spoke.

Huo Youshen subtly shook his head, his face filled with confusion as he looked out the window. A sense of self-doubt rose inside him, and he couldn’t quite understand why Chi Xiting was accompanying him on the business trip.

Who chose him?

The person pointed out, Chu Yu, had a subtle expression as well. He glanced at Chi Xiting, seeming to want to speak but hesitated. His usually expressionless face showed a rare trace of bewilderment. After a long pause, he turned away, completely ignoring Chi Xiting’s question.

Chi Xiting looked at Chu Yu in confusion, then glanced over at Huo Yushen, who was sitting quietly, almost invisible. He sighed in dissatisfaction.

Ugh.

This is really boring.

No one gets his humor.

Chi Xiting didn’t say anything else and rested his chin, staring out the window in a daze. Just as he briefly lost focus, he heard Chu Yu call his name.

Chi Xiting turned his head. “?”

“This is the proposal submitted by Ruifeng. You can take a look.” Chu Yu handed him the file and tapped the armrest of the seat twice, giving no further information.

Chi Xiting nodded. Well, since he had nothing else to do, it wouldn’t hurt to pass the time by looking at the file.

The document was substantial, likely a well-thought-out and complete proposal.

Chi Xiting flipped through a few pages, confirming the page numbers and structure before returning to the first page to start reading.

The proposal was very standard, and some of the planning ideas were similar to those Chi Xiting had in mind. The logic was sound, and the ideas were clear.

Halfway through the file, Chi Xiting frowned slightly but still didn’t see any major issues with the proposal.

On the contrary, he felt that the proposal was quite well done.

So why did Chu Yu reject it? Why did he come all the way to M City?

Chi Xiting quickly ran the situation through his mind and began to think about Chu Yu’s motivation. Just as his thoughts drifted, he saw Chu Yu tap lightly on the document.

Chi Xiting snapped back to attention and instinctively looked up at Chu Yu.

Chu Yu had no expression on his face, but he spoke in a calm voice: “Focus.”

Chi Xiting: “…”

Does he really need supervision for this?

Chi Xiting awkwardly shifted his gaze, his reading speed slowing as he carefully finished the remaining half of the proposal.

No issues.

Chi Xiting confirmed his own judgment.

When he closed the document, Chu Yu asked, “How is it?”

Chi Xiting shook his head and honestly replied, “I think there’s no problem.”

Chu Yu raised an eyebrow and asked again, “No problem?”

Seeing Chu Yu’s attitude, Chi Xiting realized that Chu Yu must think there was an issue.

Chi Xiting paused for two seconds, quickly running the proposal’s content through his mind again. After a moment, he still trusted his own judgment and shook his head. “No problem.”

Chu Yu didn’t say anything more. His expression didn’t change, and he silently took the file back, his eyelashes lowered, making it hard to read his emotions.

Chi Xiting couldn’t help but glance at him a couple of times.

To be honest.

—–

After receiving Chu Yu’s feedback, Chi Xiting felt a little uneasy. It wasn’t because he thought his answer differed from Chu Yu’s, but more because he couldn’t help but doubt his own professional abilities.

But after a brief moment of doubt, Chi Xiting quickly regained his composure.

He had full trust in his abilities and judgment.

On the side, Huo Yushen couldn’t help but glance over at Chu Yu and Chi Xiting a few times. His fingers unconsciously tightened, as if he wanted to join the discussion, but he didn’t know when or how to insert himself into the conversation.

Chu Yu wasn’t trying to treat everyone equally. After showing the proposal to Chi Xiting, he stopped paying attention to Huo Yushen and casually put the folder away.

The plane was about to land.

Chi Xiting was about to get up and grab his bag when he saw that Chu Yu had already stood up first and handed him his bag.

Chi Xiting was pleasantly surprised and took it, thanking him obediently.

Chu Yu responded with a soft “hmm,” then pressed his lips together and added, “Your judgment wasn’t wrong. The proposal itself is fine.”

Chi Xiting froze, looking at Chu Yu in astonishment.

Chu Yu lowered his gaze to Chi Xiting, his eyes behind the lenses as dark as ink, deep and still, like a tranquil sea. Chi Xiting, caught in the gaze, forgot to look away, staring for a while before Chu Yu finally curved his lips and spoke in a slightly cool tone: “Tomorrow, I’ll take you to their company, and you’ll see where the problem lies.”

After saying that, Chu Yu lifted his foot and got off the plane.

Chi Xiting froze for a few seconds before following him.

Huo Youshen: “…”

Huo Youshen, who knew nothing, had a changing expression, but after a while, he put on a calm and indifferent face and got off the plane.

By the time the three of them arrived in City M, it was nearly 4 PM.

Chu Yu wasn’t in a hurry to go to Ruifeng and took the two interns to the hotel instead.

The hotel was located near the city center with very convenient transportation. The other side was by the river, and from the windows, you could overlook Jingjiang, with a pleasant view and a fountain by the river, so you could enjoy the river view without leaving the hotel.

Normally, booking hotels wouldn’t be the leader’s responsibility—it should have been handled by the subordinates. But Chu Yu didn’t inform Chi Xiting or Huo Youshen of any details and went to the front desk personally to check in for all three.

Chi Xiting quietly followed behind like a “little useless person.” As they stood in the hotel lobby, he glanced at Huo Youshen, just in time to meet Huo Youshen’s complex gaze.

They stared at each other in silence for a couple of seconds, and everything was understood without words.

Good leader.

Handles everything personally.

Chu Yu turned to glance at Chi Xiting without saying anything.

Chi Xiting, sensing something, walked over and handed his ID to the front desk.

Huo Youshen followed suit and handed over his ID as well.

Chu Yu, standing aside, spoke calmly, “There are only two rooms left, one suite and one double room.”

Chi Xiting turned around in confusion to look at Chu Yu, then back at the front desk with a speechless expression.

Alright, alright.

The typical novel trope is here.

A routine where no rooms are available.

Chi Xiting’s mind raced.

So what now?

Is the plot suggesting that he and Chu Yu stay in one room, or that he and Huo Youshen stay in one? It can’t be that the two of them share a room, right?

Chi Xiting pondered, and after some hesitation, was about to suggest he and Huo Youshen share a room when he heard Chu Yu say, “The suite has two beds.”

Chi Xiting looked at Chu Yu again.

Chu Yu, with a calm expression, continued, “You and I will stay in the suite.”

Chi Xiting, bewildered, pointed at himself and asked, “Me?”

Chu Yu lowered his eyes to glance at Chi Xiting, giving a slight “mm” in acknowledgment.

Chi Xiting was still stunned, then nodded slowly.

Ah?

He and Chu Yu are staying in the same room?

Chi Xiting turned to glance at Huo Youshen.

Huo Youshen frowned slightly, clearly also puzzled by the arrangement.

Normally, it would make more sense for the leaders to have separate rooms, so this arrangement left much to be speculated on.

Huo Youshen’s gaze lingered on Chi Xiting’s face for a few moments, his expression subtle.

Since it was Chu Yu’s decision, even though both Chi Xiting and Huo Youshen didn’t understand, they had no choice but to accept it.

Chu Yu took the key card for the suite, and Huo Youshen grabbed the other key card for the double room. Chi Xiting, still obediently following behind like his “little useless self,” walked alongside Chu Yu.

The suite and the double room weren’t on the same floor, so when they reached the 18th floor, they parted ways.

Once Huo Youshen left, only Chi Xiting and Chu Yu were left in the elevator.

Chu Yu was tall and well-built, his posture straight and elegant, walking with one hand in his pocket and the other loosely holding the handle of his suitcase. His sharp features were framed by half-moon glasses, and he looked like he was lost in thought.

Chi Xiting stole a glance before quickly turning his gaze away.

In no time, they arrived at the 23rd floor.

Chu Yu stepped out first, walking with long strides toward the room.

Chi Xiting hurried slightly to catch up.

Chu Yu swiped the card and opened the door. He glanced back at Chi Xiting and subtly stepped aside to let him enter.

Chi Xiting obediently followed, cautiously sidestepping to pass through the gap between the door and Chu Yu.

Though careful, there was still some accidental physical contact.

As if noticing the slight brush of Chi Xiting’s hair against his chin, Chu Yu slightly lifted his head and moved a bit to the side. Once Chi Xiting was in the room, Chu Yu closed the door behind them.

Chi Xiting finally understood why Chu Yu had arranged for them to stay in the same room when he saw the suite.

It was a presidential suite.

The hotel was a five-star establishment, offering top-tier services and accommodations. The presidential suite had all the luxury resources—spacious, fully equipped, and with automatic electronics that adjusted the room’s temperature and lighting as soon as they entered.

Chi Xiting looked around and thought, “No wonder he’s a capitalist, even business trips have this level of luxury.”

He was lucky to be part of it.

Not bad.

This trip was worth it.

Before Chi Xiting could reflect further, Chu Yu had already taken off his suit jacket and hung it on the coat rack, then loosened his tie and walked straight toward the bathroom.

Chi Xiting followed Chu Yu with his gaze, his eyes lingering on Chu Yu’s exposed neck for a moment before quickly looking away, feeling slightly awkward.

Chu Yu, seeming to have a bit of a cleanliness obsession, went straight to the bathroom after entering the room. After a while, he came out, heading for the bathrobe. As he passed through the living area, he glanced at Chi Xiting and said softly, “I’ll go take a shower. You sit and rest for a bit.”

Chi Xiting’s mind strangely wandered off.

The way he said that…

It felt like their relationship was getting a little ambiguous.

Though his thoughts began to scatter, Chi Xiting didn’t show it on the surface. He nodded in response and sat on the couch.

—-

After seeing Chu Yu enter the bathroom again, Chi Xiting took out his phone, quickly opened Xiaohongshu, and typed a line into the search bar.

——What to do when staying in the same room with your boss on a business trip?

【Asad: So awkward, I should’ve added some money to book my own room…】

【Is Just Looking for Food: Guess why I came to search this question in the middle of the night?】

【Xiao Chen Doesn’t Like to Work: LOL, I even sleep on the same bed with my boss. He keeps burrowing into the bed, snoring so loudly I thought lightning was going to strike.】

【Maitreya: As someone who likes to sleep while hugging something, I really can’t deal with this kind of problem.】

The sound of water running from the bathroom started, and Chi Xiting glanced up.

The bathroom door was semi-transparent, and you could vaguely see the interior, but soon, with the steam rising, the entire door became fogged up.

Chi Xiting looked for a moment and then quickly withdrew his gaze, biting his lip in guilt.

Thankfully, it was a suite with two beds.

He wasn’t exactly the most peaceful sleeper…

—–

After scrolling through a few related posts, Chi Xiting stopped looking at his phone.

It was pretty much useless.

Most of the posts were just about awkwardness.

Which he had already experienced himself.

Bored again, Chi Xiting started fiddling with his phone. Time always flew by when using his phone, and before long, he noticed the sound of the bathroom door opening.

Chi Xiting instinctively looked up.

The bathroom was still shrouded in misty steam.

Chu Yu walked out wearing a bathrobe, the robe loosely tied with just a simple wrap around his waist, exposing a small patch of skin on his chest.

Chu Yu’s hair tips were still wet, with droplets falling from his hair, gently landing on his shoulders. A few drops traced the lines of his collarbone, sliding down his muscles and disappearing at the edge of the bathrobe.

Chi Xiting, inexplicably, looked at him for a moment longer, his gaze lingering on the exposed skin of Chu Yu’s chest for a few seconds.

It was kind of sexy.

It seemed like Chu Yu noticed Chi Xiting’s gaze, and he looked over. Without his glasses, his already sharp features appeared even more defined, intensified by the water droplets on his face.

“What are you looking at?” Chu Yu asked淡ly.

Chi Xiting was momentarily mesmerized, struggling to hold himself back, but still couldn’t resist, carefully opening his mouth to speak, “Mr. Chu, with all due respect…”

You have a really nice body.

You look very capable.

Before Chi Xiting could finish, Chu Yu raised his eyebrow slightly and coolly responded with two cold words.

“No forgiveness.”

“…?”

“Alright.” Chi Xiting obediently replied, “I won’t say anything more.”