MFMBSA 40

Chapter 40 – Annual Meeting

 

The dinner of the annual meeting was held in a local auditorium, with nearly 100 tables lined up. In addition to the meal, there were performances by various departments and branches, including group executives.

 

When Qi Xi and Fu Yanchuan went there, it had already started. The lights inside were dim and flickering, making it difficult to see the audience clearly.

 

Fu Yanchuan handed Qi Xi to Zhou Zhiwei. When Qi Xi was paying attention to the performance on stage, he told Zhou Zhiwei, “Don’t let anyone disturb him.”

 

When Zhou Zhiwei applied for the job, she never imagined that one day she would be assigned to take care of the CEO’s boyfriend. Why did she think Qi Xi was Fu Yanchuan’s boyfriend? She had to know from Xu Chen that Fu Yanchuan specifically confessed to looking for a project. The real name of the painter who went to make the appointment was Qi Xi.

 

She probably guessed the reason why Fu Yanchuan didn’t take Qi Xi with him. The people sitting at the main table were either Fu family members or group executives. Qi Xi would inevitably be stared at like a small animal when he appeared there.

 

She nodded to Fu Yanchuan in assurance, and then she saw Fu Yanchuan holding Qi Xi’s hand and whispering in his ear: “You and Sister Zhou should go and sit down. I’ll be in front. If you need anything, let me know.”

 

There was dancing on the stage. It was very ordinary, but what was extraordinary was that all the men and women were dancing, making the audience burst into laughter.

 

Qi Xi listened to Fu Yanchuan’s words without taking his eyes off the stage. He didn’t know anyone, but he still laughed happily. In turn, he patted Fu Yanchuan on the shoulder and said, “It’s okay. You can go ahead.”

 

Fu Yanchuan didn’t think there was anything unusual about Qi Xi’s tone, but Zhou Zhiwei was stunned. She recalled that when she first met Qi Xi, she didn’t seem to get along with Fu Yanchuan like this.

 

At Fu Yanchuan’s instruction, Zhou Zhiwei took Qi Xi to the middle seat in the third row. The seats were originally arranged in advance, but she found someone to vacate this seat temporarily.

 

“You just sit here, and you can eat when the food is served.”

 

Qi Xi carefully looked at the people on the table, sat down and said to Zhou Xiaowei, “Thank you, Sister Zhou.”

 

Zhou Zhiwei felt her eardrums twitching. She was an only child and no one had ever called her sister. This was the first time the CEO asked someone to call her sister. She replied a little weirdly: “You’re welcome. If you need anything, you can tell me.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Seeing Qi Xi nodding obediently, Zhou Zhiwei really felt like she was taking care of a younger brother. Half of the colleagues at the table were from the CEO’s office, and the ones sitting on the other side of her were colleagues who were knocking against Mr. Fu at the next desk.

 

“Weiwei.” A colleague quietly looked at Qi Xi, pulled her over and asked quietly, “Is this the former Mr. Fu’s stand-in?”

 

Zhou Zhiwei glanced at her and said, “Don’t ask, or you may lose your job.”

 

Qi Xi had never been to such an occasion. At first glance, he saw that the event was full of people. He was a little nervous, but he was observing curiously. He also had to take time to watch the performance on the stage, so he was so busy that his eyes were wandering around.

 

Zhou Zhiwei thought he was looking for Fu Yanchuan and pointed to the table at the front, “He’s at the front.”

 

Qi Xi didn’t look at Fu Yanchuan at first, but he looked him as soon as she pointed at him.

 

On the stage was a program performed by the group’s executives. Zhou Zhiwei didn’t know who was so good at convincing the group’s executives to dance in reverse. She couldn’t help but said to Qi Xi: “It was said that Mr. Fu was also invited to perform this number, but he refused. Then they all asked Mr. Fu to perform alone without participating, but he still refused.”

 

Qi Xi looked at the stage.

 

The men were wearing women’s cheongsam. He couldn’t imagine what it would look like on Fu Yanchuan, and he couldn’t imagine what kind of show Fu Yanchuan could perform. He asked Zhou Zhiwei curiously, “Has Brother Yan ever performed before?”

 

Zhou Zhiwei was a little surprised when she heard Qi Xi call Fu Yanchuan such a name, but not surprised. She replied: “He only performed once. I have never seen it with my own eyes. I have only seen the recorded video. When he became the president, years ago, he played the cello.”

 

Qi Xi’s eyes lit up instantly, and he came closer to Zhou Zhiwei and asked, “Do you still have the copy? Can you show me too?”

 

“There may be one on the group’s official website. After all, Mr. Fu is the leader of our group. He is responsible for the appearance and recruitment. I will look for it.”

 

Qi Xi watched Zhou Zhiwei pick up her phone expectantly. The people sitting next to Fu Yanchuan were all shareholders and executives of the group. At this time, executives’ performance had ended. After changing clothes and returning to his seat, he saw him coming. He immediately teased that he had dodged a bullet.

 

Fu Yanchuan sat down silently, with Fu Zhenrong on his left. He glanced at him and looked away. He pretended not to have seen him.

 

Everyone at the table was paying attention to the father and son. Because Fu Yanchuan had given Fu Jinshen’s speech at the summary meeting this afternoon, Fu Zhenrong had been looking bad. At this moment, the atmosphere at the whole table was even more tense.

 

Fu Jinshen was sitting diagonally across from Fu Yanchuan. As if he still thought the atmosphere was not electric enough, he deliberately asked Fu Yanchuan, “Yanchuan, what were you busy with this afternoon? Don’t forget to play with that kid of yours and forget about the flight time.” 

 

Before Fu Yanchuan had any reaction, Fu Zhenrong slapped his palm on the table and glared at Fu Jinshen, but he heard Fu Yanchuan reply nonchalantly: “Well, he got up late.”

 

Fu Zhenrong stood up suddenly, and Fu Jinshen laughed without hesitation, “Old Fu, when the children grow up, they should have their own lives. You just take too much care!”

 

“Mind yourself!”

 

Fu Zhenrong didn’t want to lose his temper here, so he turned around and went out by himself, leaving a table full of people since he was too angry to speak out.

 

Fu Yanchuan suddenly picked up his wine glass and said, “Uncle, everyone, it looks like you have worked hard.”

 

Seeing Fu Yanchuan taking the initiative to calm down the atmosphere, the people at the table quickly picked up their drinks and pretended that nothing happened just now.

 

After Fu Yanchuan finished the glass, he poured another glass, took it up and went to the table next to him to toast, overcoming the atmosphere that had almost collapsed just now.

 

There were also middle-level members of the group on both sides. When they saw Fu Yanchuan coming to toast, they were all ready to have a drink with him. However, Fu Yanchuan didn’t even intend to toast from the table, so he went along the table in front of the stage and toasted backwards.

 

The third table where Fu Yanchuan was sitting was at the table where Qi Xi was sitting. Everyone at the table was flattered and hurriedly stood up and raised their glasses.

 

“Mr. Fu!”

 

Qi Xi was sitting facing the stage, not in the middle aisle. Fu Yanchuan forced himself to turn next to him, put a hand on his shoulder naturally, looked at the people at the table and said, “It’s been a hard year. I wish you all the best in the new year.”

 

Seeing that everyone else had stood up, Qi Xi hurriedly went to get the wine glass, but Fu Yanchuan’s invisible hand stretched out to hold him down. He also gave him a glass with juice next to him.

 

Fu Yanchuan didn’t even look at Qi Xi during the whole process, but everyone at the table saw his movements, and they were so curious that they instantly had eight hundred versions of speculation in their minds.

 

Only Qi Xi didn’t think there was anything wrong. He picked up the juice, stood up, and took the initiative to touch Fu Yanchuan’s cup. He drank the juice in one gulp with a smile on his lips.

 

After Fu Yanchuan finished his wine, he didn’t leave immediately like the way he did on the previous two tables. He pressed his shoulder against Qi Xi vaguely, and turned around to ask him, “Do you like the food?”

 

Qi Xi nodded as usual, and Fu Yanchuan asked again: “Is the program good?”

 

Qi Xi still nodded, and Fu Yanchuan held his hand quietly in the dim light. He stared at Fu Yanchuan strangely and dug into Fu Yanchuan’s hand.

 

Fu Yanchuan squeezed it hard with dissatisfaction, then let go, and said calmly: “It looks good.”

 

“Oh.” Qi Xi responded, and was pushed back to his seat by Fu Yanchuan himself.

 

Everyone at the table saw Fu Yanchuan’s hand slowly sliding down Qi Xi’s shoulder as if he was reluctant to leave, and then went back.

 

Those who were still waiting to drink with Fu Yanchuan were stunned. Why is it over now?

 

Zhou Zhiwei, the only one who could see the truth clearly, had shattered her filter on Fu Yanchuan. What kind of robot, what kind of cold and domineering boss, Fu Yanchuan is clearly a lover. He doesn’t want to be exposed, but he can’t help but show off.

 

This is not to toast them, but to blatantly come to see Qi Xi. Does he really think that everyone at the table is blind?

 

By 11 o’clock, the show was almost over, Qi Xi started to feel sleepy, and he sent a message to Fu Yanchuan.

 

[Brother Yan, how long will it take for it to end?]

 

Half of the people at Fu Yanchuan’s table had left, and the remaining half were waiting to form a private round after the game was over. He saw Qi Xi’s message so he replied back.

 

[Want to go home?]

 

Qi Xi didn’t reply after seeing the message. He looked in Fu Yanchuan’s direction. Fu Yanchuan seemed to feel his gaze and looked back. He understood what Qi Xi meant.

 

Fu Yanchuan put away his cell phone and was about to leave. The people at the table quickly stopped him, “Mr. Fu, you’re leaving already? Don’t do this every year. Let’s go have two more drinks together.”

 

“I’m not interested.”

 

Fu Yanchuan refused directly, and the other party refused to give up and said: “Let’s go to the hot springs tomorrow, do you want-“

 

He didn’t wait for him to finish his words and was already walking towards the exit. He turned around when he reached the door and saw Qi Xi running towards him. He caught the person who jumped out with both hands.

 

As the door closed, someone inside caught a glimpse of Fu Yanchuan holding Qi Xi.

 

Qi Xi seemed to have been away from Fu Yanchuan for a long time. He pressed his face against his chest and said in a muffled voice: “Brother Yan, I miss you.”

 

Fu Yanchuan lowered his eyes, and the man whose face was buried in his chest raised his head, looking like he wanted him to try to coax him. He slightly raised the corners of his lips, “Aren’t you the one who insisted on coming?”

 

Qi Xi replied without hesitation, “If I wait in the house, I will miss you more.”

 

Fu Yanchuan couldn’t help but touch his face. He lowered his head and said with a whisper: “Let’s go back.”

 

There were people coming out for air in the corridor. They didn’t know Qi Xi, but they knew Fu Yanchuan. When they saw the two people being close and hugging each other as if no one else was around, Fu Yanchuan didn’t shy away from it. On the contrary, they didn’t dare to look more. They were simply shocked when he took Qi Xi’s hand away.

 

Fu Zhenrong was in the car downstairs, watching Fu Yanchuan holding Qi Xi’s hand and getting into the car with Qi Xi. He took a long puff of his cigar without any expression.

 

But the driver in the front seat was too scared to breathe until Fu Zhenrong spoke.

 

“Follow them.”

 

The driver saw that the only car in front was Fu Yanchuan’s. He did not dare to refute and followed silently, only mentally begging the father and son would spare him after.

 

What’s the conflict? Don’t blame it on him then. He still has to make money to support his family.

 

Fu Yanchuan and Qi Xi returned to the small villa on the beach. There was a fire burning in the fireplace and the room was warm and cozy.

 

Qi Xi took off his coat and fell on the sofa in front of the fireplace. Fu Yanchuan followed him and that’s when he remembered to say something to Fu Yanchuan: “Brother Yan, I saw you playing the cello. You are so handsome and sound good. Can you really do everything?” 

 

Fu Yanchuan barely ate and was a little drunk after drinking a few glasses of wine. He didn’t think about what Qi Xi was talking about and asked him, “Where did you see it?”

 

“Sister Zhou showed it to me. She said it was a program you performed at the previous annual meeting. When will you show it to me too?”

 

Fu Yanchuan finally remembered, “I’m not that good. Are you sure you want to hear more?”

 

Qi Xi nodded repeatedly, “You have no confidence at all! It sounds good, but I think it sounds good already just by looking at you.”

 

Fu Yanchuan smiled. He fell down and fell on Qi Xi before speaking, “Have you had enough for dinner?”

 

Qi Xi actually didn’t eat enough. He was very busy for several hours. He had to observe how the annual meeting was held, watch performances, and pay attention to Fu Yanchuan from time to time. He had no time for himself to eat. Thus, the dishes have become cold after being left for a long time, which is not delicious at all.

 

Seeing Qi Xi like this, Fu Yanchuan knew that he hadn’t eaten enough. He looked at the person under him and said, “Kiss me and I’ll go cook you supper.”

 

Qi Xi felt that Fu Yanchuan had become particularly fond of asking him to kiss him. He held Fu Yanchuan’s face and kissed him hard on the lips. The sound was so loud that the firewood in the fireplace also “popped”. He then said to Fu Yanchuan. “You kiss me and I’ll cook you supper.”

 

Fu Yanchuan felt that Qi Xi was very naughty sometimes, staring straight at the person who was imitating him. He said “ok” in reply, pressed the person into the sofa and kissed him deeply.

 

Qi Xi threw off his shoes and hugged Fu Yanchuan tightly, responding enthusiastically.