Jing Hao flustered ran towards the cafeteria. As he got his lunch, he searched for a place to sit. Then he heard someone calling him - it was Qi Yimo from the Art department. "Jing Hao!" she waved at him.
Jing Hao smiled and joined her and Ming Yandi. "Assistant Jing, how's the first day of work?" Ming Yandi asked.
"Hectic, but in a good way," Jing Hao replied.
"That's good to hear," Ming Yandi said, then stopped the conversation and focused on his food. "Oh, god, today's food is so tasty! This is all because of President Hong," Yimo slurped the noodles and continued. "If it wasn't for his treat, the cafeteria wouldn't have made such tasty food." Jing Hao smiled at her words without commenting, eating his food in silence.
"Man, I really need a man like that," Yimo continued. "If I say 'Baby, can you take me shopping?' then he should say 'Yimo, honey, I don't have time today, but here, take my card and shop as much as you want.'" She said with sparkling eyes.
"Yimo, your dream is only going to remain a dream. Now just eat what you got, or else you don't know when the food in your plate will be snatched," Yandi said.
"Ming, you're being mean to me. Look, in the next few months, I'm going to get myself a rich boyfriend."
"We'll see that. I've finished my lunch. I'm going back to work. Assistant Jing, bye."
Jing Hao glanced back and forth between them as they talked, trying not to interrupt. As Ming Yandi was about to leave, Jing Hao waved at him."This guy is just jealous," Yimo huffed and stuffed her mouth full of noodles.
"You tell me, Jing Hao, don't you think I'm beautiful?"
Jing Hao looked at her. She had a clean face with pouty lips, a small nose, and big eyes. She was beautiful. But when he thought of his sister Ruo Xi, who had similar features but high cheekbones and the look of a model, he couldn't decide. Finally, he answered, "You are."
"Do you think I can have a chance with the new President Hong?"
Jing Hao choked on his water after hearing that. "I... I don't know," he stammered. "I've finished my lunch. Thank you for inviting me to sit with you." He hurried away before Yimo could call him back.
Jing Hao took his seat and began working again. Suddenly, he noticed Senior Supervisor Ms. Wu approaching him. He stood up to greet her. "Assistant Jing, this is Mr. Hong's card. I wanted to hand it over to him, but he wasn't in his cabin. Could you please pass it on to him?"
"Sure, Ms. Wu," Jing Hao replied.
"And also thank him from all the staff," Ms. Wu asked.
"I will, Ms. Wu."
She gave him a smile and left. Jing Hao went back to his work.
Hong Yi and Yun Xiang returned to their work after lunch, but Hong Yi's mind was replaying the conversation with Yun Xiang. If what she said was true, he had to act quickly.
Time flew by as everyone became engrossed in their work. Hong Yi decided it was time to meet Pei Xin at Halo.
He gathered his belongings and called Jing Hao from the office phone. "Hello Jing Hao, come to my cabin."Jing Hao entered the cabin to find Hong Yi ready to leave. "Jing Hao, I'm leaving. If there's any emergency, give me a call."
"Sure, sir," Jing Hao nodded. He handed Hong Yi's card back to him. "The employees wanted to thank you for the treat, sir."Hong Yi smiled and took the card. "Don't stay late at the office."
Jing Hao smiled and nodded, escorting Hong Yi to his car.
"You can go back to work," Hong Yi said as he was leaving.
Halo was peaceful due to the off-peak hours. Hong Yi found Manager Li waiting to receive him. "Manager Li, if anyone named Cody Lee arrives, escort him to see me," Hong Yi instructed before heading into a private room where Pei Xin was waiting. But there was another person with him.
The other person stood up from his seat and gave him a tight hug. "Hong Yi, how are you, buddy?" he asked after releasing him.
"I'm good," Hong Yi replied curtly, scanning the man's face. He quickly recognized him as Bai Qi, one of his five friends.
Bai Qi was a beta from a well-respected pharmaceutical family. He had two older brothers, one an alpha who currently managed the family business. "I was busy with my brother's wedding arrangements, so I couldn't contact you. Sorry about that," Bai Qi explained.
"It's fine, Bai Qi. You're here now, that's all that matters," Hong Yi said, patting his shoulder as Bai Qi was shorter than him. "I'm here now, Hong Yi. I'll be with you in this," Bai Qi declared with a beaming smile."If your bromance is over, can we discuss the matter at hand now?" Pei Xin grumbled.
"Don't be jealous, you can ask for a hug if you want," Bai Qi teased, jumping on Pei Xin for a hug.
"Get off me, you nameless creature!" Pei Xin growled, squished under Bai Qi's weight. He shoved Bai Qi off, dusted his shirt, and straightened his clothes. Hong Yi sat down in front of them, and Pei Xin began laying out the files he had gathered about Hong Li and Hong Lin.
"Hong Yi, this is Hong Li's wife, Ester. She's a foreigner, a beta like your uncle. They have two sons, Alex and Cyrus, both betas. But your uncle has a mistress, Annie Sun, who used to be Hong Li's assistant. They have a son together, Sun Ning, who's an alpha. It seems Hong Li favors his mistress and her son over his family. Because of that, Alex and Cyrus don't have a good relationship with their father.
"Pei Xin showed the pictures to Hong Yi and Bai Qi. "Next is Hong Lin. His wife, Xiao Ran, was an omega. They have only one daughter, Hong Si Rui, who is just six years old now. But two years ago, Xiao Ran passed away in a car accident. All the inheritance under Hong Si Rui's name went to Hong Lin. Her daughter is now being raised by her maternal grandparents. There's suspicion that Hong Lin might be behind Xiao Ran's death."
"This is messed up," Bai Qi said, looking at Xiao Ran's picture.
"It's about to get messier," Pei Xin replied, taking a deep breath.