ADTCP Ch55part2

Zhu Wensheng stayed silent. He knew Zhao was right. Last night was proof enough, hesitation had cost him the perfect chance. Now he felt it slipping further from reach.

One lie, no matter how many others are used to cover it, will eventually collapse into fragments.

Zhao Zhao grew anxious. “You can’t delay anymore. Remember what you told me about his friend? If he finds out on his own before you tell him… the whole situation changes, ”

“I know.”

Zhu Wensheng cut him off. He lowered his head, thoughtful, his tone so light it was almost a sigh. “From the very beginning, I shouldn’t have lied.”

“So I’ve already decided.”

For some reason, Zhao felt a wave of dread. He straightened up, wary. “…Decided what?”

***
Maybe it was lack of sleep, maybe it was forcing himself up so early, but when Tao Zhen sat in the library that morning, his focus was poor. After a while, he gave up and went outside for fresh air.

Spring was in bloom. Couples sat by the lakeside corridor, some whispering, some quietly doing their own work, the atmosphere peaceful and sweet.

Watching them, Tao Zhen suddenly thought of Zhu Wensheng.

Feelings were subtle things. A careful lover could read happiness, sadness, irritation, all from the smallest expressions and gestures. And Tao Zhen clearly felt that Zhu Wensheng wasn’t right.

When had it begun?

Last night, when he mentioned breaking up?

No, his gut told him it was earlier. Perhaps back when Tong Xia and Jiang Shan had their fallout.

Back then, he had only sighed for their relationship. But Zhu Wensheng had asked,

If I also had something I was hiding from you?

“…”

The realization hit like tugging a loose thread, suddenly everything unraveled.

Yes. It was after he said, “I hate being lied to most,” that Zhu Wensheng had begun to change. When Tao Zhen debated ending the sponsorship, Zhu Wensheng had grown restless, wanting to say something. Last night, when the dessert arrived, they had almost spoken at the same time.

If he hadn’t spoken first,

Zhu Wensheng probably would have confessed something.

Tao Zhen’s breath quickened, heart pounding. Was that it?

Was Zhu Wensheng hiding something, was that why he’d said “forget it”? Why he avoided meeting Tao Zhen’s eyes?

But what was he hiding?

Thoughts tangled in his mind: Gu Xingzhou’s words, Tong Xia’s tears, Jiang Shan’s remorse. His temples throbbed. Just then, his phone buzzed. He fumbled it out.

[Tao Zhen! Your livestream’s been unbanned! You can go live again!]
[Haha, but this time don’t get banned again for cuddling with your boyfriend, or it’ll be another week. But still, I think…]

His eyes skimmed the text, then froze on the sender’s name.

Contact: Qiqi.

Tao Zhen blinked.

Before he knew it, he’d already typed:
[Qi-ge, do you happen to have a photo of our boss?]

The screen showed “typing…” then stopped. Instead, Qiqi called. Tao Zhen answered immediately.

Qiqi’s voice was cautious, as if guessing something. “Sorry, Tao Zhen, I don’t. At meetings, the higher-ups forbid us from posting his photo online. It’s really hard to find… Why are you asking all of a sudden?”

No proof meant it was just suspicion. Not fact. Tao Zhen’s heart eased, though he wasn’t sure if it was relief or disappointment. “Oh, thanks Qiqi-ge… nothing, I was just curious.”

Qiqi hesitated, then hinted: “I don’t have photos, but… I know something. Every Monday, Z era has a general meeting. The top brass always attend. I happen to have a meeting tomorrow too… If you want, you could come with me.”

Tao Zhen’s breath caught.

Yes. No photos? No problem. If Zhu Wensheng really was that young master, that boss, he could see for himself.

Taking a deep breath, he pressed down all other thoughts, thanked Qiqi seriously, then returned to study. But the whole day felt like it went by on fast-forward; he barely knew what he’d studied before trudging home, dazed.

Coincidentally, just as he debated whether to talk to Zhu Wensheng, Zhu Wensheng sent word he’d be busy and staying at the club dorms that night.

Tao Zhen couldn’t say what he felt. He’d been restless since morning, but now his nerves were stretched tight. After class, he hurried into a cab to meet Qi at Gen Z.

Last time he came here, and this time, his mood couldn’t be more different.

Qiqi didn’t ask, but his eyes showed he had guessed something. Worry mixed with irrepressible curiosity. “Shall we go up? The meeting rooms are all on the same floor, so…”

Tao Zhen smiled faintly and nodded, entering the elevator with him.

Ding. The doors opened to a bright corridor, with branching meeting rooms. Qiqi tapped his nose, signaled left for Tao Zhen, and headed right to find his manager.

Standing there, Tao Zhen’s legs felt weak. But he had come this far. No turning back.

He breathed deep and walked quietly toward the left. His gaze fixed on the gaps between frosted and clear glass, scanning each face inside.

First room: eight people. Not him.

Second room: five people. Not him.

Third room: ten people. Not him.
…

The last room, at the very end.

If caught here, there’d be no excuse. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead, hands and feet clammy, breath held. He checked one face after another.

Not this one. Not that one.

Not him. Not him.

Not… him.

Dazed, Tao Zhen straightened.
Eighteen people in this room, and still, no Zhu Wensheng.

Maybe Zhu Wensheng had simply skipped this meeting. Or maybe… Tao Zhen had been wrong from the start. Zhu Wensheng wasn’t the heir at all.

Either way, he’d come here for nothing.

Eyes closing, Tao Zhen felt deflated. He trudged away, not noticing a girl in the last room had looked up and seen his face clearly.

By the time he reached the elevator, pressed the button, and prepared to leave, he heard a breathless voice: “Please wait a moment!”

Reflexively, he held the door. “Okay.”

The girl rushed in, thanking him. But she didn’t press a floor button, and her eyes lingered on him.

Tao Zhen shrank into the corner, uneasy. Did she see him earlier and think he was spying?

He licked his lips nervously. “Um… which floor? I can press it for you.”

“Ah, sixteen, thank you!” She blinked, realizing she’d been staring. Flustered, she looked away.

Tao Zhen exhaled in relief.

The elevator descended, stopping at sixteen with a chime. The doors slid open.

She should have left.

But before stepping out, she seemed to muster all her courage, turning back:

“Um…”

Tao Zhen looked up blankly. “Hm?”

“Mr. ZhenzhiBang,” she whispered, “you came looking for Mr Zhu Wensheng, didn’t you? He’s very busy today, so he didn’t attend the meeting. But… if you don’t mind, you could come with me to his office and wait.”

Tao Zhen froze.

After a beat, he managed: “And you are…?”

“Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. You can just call me Xiao Sun. I’m Assistant to Mr. Zhu Wensheng, General Manager Zhu Wensheng.”