FOBTS CH21

Chapter 21: Reliable Secretary

“Alright, Second Young Master,” Assistant Gong snatched the water cup. “This water isn’t good. We won’t drink it anymore.”

Jian Yuheng: “@-@”

This crazy assistant was driving him nuts.

What was Song Ruochen up to now?

“Second Young Master,” Assistant Gong asked, “Is the team-building plan I arranged unsatisfactory? Why are you so distracted?”

“I’m thinking,” Jian Yuheng replied.

Assistant Gong: “?”

Man of few words?

“Second Young Master, there’s a message,” Assistant Gong noticed the phone screen light up and reminded him.

Jian Yuheng glanced at it.

[“Awo~” User “@oSoulMate” sent you 3 messages.]

[“Awo~” User “@HusbandNotHome” sent you 9 messages.]

Jian Yuheng: “…?”

What?

He opened the chat with “@oSoulMate,” and the app had marked their pheromone compatibility as 81%.

oSoulMate: [Shared a photo with you.]

oSoulMate: [Shared their residential address with you.]

oSoulMate: [Want to meet a sweet omega?]

He kept the app installed to show his family he was using it, but hadn’t uninstalled it yet. After some hesitation, he changed his ID and bio.

ID: Boss
Bio: Strict attendance, flexible hours, dynamic pay, customer first.
Avatar: Luxury car key (fake).

Two minutes later—

And just like that, his account achieved eternal peace.

He had to admit, this trick was quite effective. It instantly killed anyone’s desire to chat.

He glanced at the 100% match “Corporate Drone” ID and suddenly felt this omega might also be a little genius.

“Second Young Master, we’ll arrive in five minutes,” Assistant Gong reminded him.

Jian Yuheng hummed in response and exited the app.

*

Song Ruochen was sleeping soundly in the car. When he opened his eyes, he still looked a bit dazed.

“Secretary Song,” the car door beside him was opened, and Assistant Gong’s voice came from outside. “Do I need to invite you to step out?”

“Sure, how would you invite me?” Song Ruochen asked. “Would bowing suffice?”

Assistant Gong was fuming.

After playing in the theme park all day, Song Ruochen was so tired his body felt lazy. When he got out of the car, his steps were slow, and he lagged far behind Jian Yuheng.

[The villain is staring at you again.]

The system chirped.

“Let him stare,” Song Ruochen said. “I, Song Ruochen, have a clear conscience and act openly.”

Jian Feng had already arrived and was waiting for them in the meeting room.

“Your company’s office building is really impressive,” Jian Yuheng complimented. “It’s right in the city center.”

Outside the large floor-to-ceiling windows of the meeting room, the urban landscape of the city center was fully visible.

“There’s even a helicopter pad on the roof,” the secretary of the rival company’s president said. “It’s convenient for President Ling’s commute.”

“That is indeed convenient,” Jian Yuheng replied.

“I remember the roof of Xiaoshi Group’s building also has a helipad,” President Ling of the collaborating company asked. “Does President Jian not use it for daily commutes?”

Jian Feng: “Energy conservation, emission reduction, green commuting—we’re not considering helicopters for now.”

Jian Yuheng: “:)”

Haochi was a film company, while Xiaoshi was an internet conglomerate. The two sides were meeting today to discuss a new year’s film and television project collaboration.

While listening, Song Ruochen subtly dragged the refreshments on the table closer to himself and nibbled on a few.

Normally, no one competed with him for snacks at meetings, but today—

As he watched Jian Feng express his opinions and nodded with a polite smile, he stealthily reached out for the refreshment tray, only to grab an unexpected visitor’s hand.

Receiving a tap on the back of his hand, he winced and retracted it, only to see Jian Yuheng take three small pastries.

Song Ruochen: “???”

Corporate warfare locust?

“The scripts for the films and dramas are all here,” President Ling said. “Xiaoshi can take a look and decide which ones to invest in.”

“We hope to invest in works that appeal more to college students,” Jian Feng said.

College students: “?”

“Let me take a look.” Song Ruochen opened the scripts from the other company.

College students like two types of shows: those that are ridiculously amazing and those that are ridiculously cheesy.

Based on the preferences of his dormmates, he picked out a few scripts.

“President Jian, I think these are promising,” Song Ruochen said.

“‘The Overbearing CEO Chases His Wife: Madam, Hurry and Escape’?” Jian Yuheng read the title aloud. “What are college students even watching these days?”

“It’s more suitable for short dramas,” Song Ruochen explained.

Considering this world didn’t yet have short dramas, he elaborated further: “One to two minutes per episode, with actors who have even a bit of acting skill. It’s perfect for college students to watch when they’re zoning out during class.”

The Jian brothers seemed to be deep in thought. Jian Yuheng picked up a pen and jotted down a few notes on the script.

“Or we could give the script to college students and let them shoot it themselves,” Song Ruochen suggested. “Many excellent works are often born during exam week.”

These were insights drawn from Xiao Song’s own experience.

“Secretary Song seems to know a lot about college students?” Jian Yuheng asked.

“Just a little,” Song Ruochen replied modestly.

The meeting continued, with Assistant Gong diligently performing his duties.

When Jian Yuheng spoke, Assistant Gong took notes. When Jian Yuheng paused, Assistant Gong served tea. When Jian Yuheng read a script, Assistant Gong helped turn the pages.

Song Ruochen decided to imitate him.

When Jian Feng spoke, he nudged a cup of tea to Jian Feng’s lips.

When Jian Feng paused, he turned the pages.

When Jian Feng read a script—

Song Ruochen pressed the script down firmly, glaring. “Wait, let me finish this chapter.”

By the end of the meeting, Song Ruochen had genuinely contributed a lot.

The collaboration was tentatively settled, and Song Ruochen left Haochi with the two bosses.

“We’re heading back to the hotel,” Jian Feng said. “Secretary Song, you and I—”

“Let’s ride together,” Jian Yuheng interjected. “We’re all from the same company. Why split up?”

Jian Feng: “?”

Jian Feng: “Alright.”

Not bad. His younger brother had developed a sense of company pride, even insisting on carpooling.

The business van was spacious, more than enough for four people. Song Ruochen sat by the window, a laptop on his lap, occasionally typing with a calm gaze.

“President Jian,” Song Ruochen reported, “there’s a charity gala in City A tonight, themed around supporting desert regions.”

“We won’t make it back in time,” Jian Feng said. “Let’s just donate something useful for the desert residents.”

“Don’t worry, it’s already handled,” Song Ruochen replied. “In President Jian and Madam’s name, I’ve donated a yacht to the desert region.”

[Donate the ship along with it!]

Jian Feng: “?”

Jian Yuheng: “:)”

Jian Yuheng turned his head and covered his mouth.

When Song Ruochen glanced over, their eyes met. Jian Yuheng’s gaze wavered briefly before landing on his face.

Suddenly, Jian Yuheng reached out and rubbed his thumb along Song Ruochen’s cheek a few times.

It hurt a bit. Song Ruochen’s back was pressed against the car window, leaving him no room to dodge.

“Secretary Song, did you take meeting notes on your face?” Jian Yuheng teased.

“…Huh?” Song Ruochen was momentarily stunned.

Jian Yuheng lightly clapped his hands, and Assistant Gong handed over a small mirror.

“Did I draw on my face with a pen?” Song Ruochen asked the system. “It wasn’t that noticeable before, but now it looks like he’s given me blush.”

[Such a tender little grape~]

“Isn’t it because he pressed too hard?” Song Ruochen wondered.

“Secretary Song, remember to contact the flight crew,” Jian Feng said. “The business trip is over.”

Jian Feng clearly felt relieved. After all, the embarrassment from City C could be left behind with a change of location.

*

As soon as the plane landed in City A, Song Ruochen received a notification from the system.

[Congratulations, Host, for successfully helping the protagonist gong and shou safely complete the ‘business trip’ storyline.]

[Protagonist gong and shou stats panel updated.]

[Affection +20, Rapport +20, Introversion +10]

Song Ruochen: “Why did introversion increase?”

[No idea. Doesn’t matter. We got paid.]

[Your rewind coin pouch has been credited with 20 minutes. Daily usage limit: 15 times.]

“I’ve got money again,” Song Ruochen said. “Let’s take a break. Tomorrow night, we’ll pick up the main character gong’s sickly childhood friend.”

Using “disappointed by a favorite novel’s bad ending” as an excuse, he took a day off. The next evening, he hailed a cab to the airport.

On the way, Yan Ci messaged him.

Yan Ci: [It’s getting cold. Secretary Song should buy some new clothes.]

Song Ruochen:[ 0.o You’ve already bought so much, I can’t wear them all.]

Song Ruochen: [Buy more. I’ll change outfits every hour.]

Yan Ci: [Good little grape. 0.0 Wanna play games?]

Song Ruochen: [Madam, let’s play tomorrow. I’m at the airport now, on an important mission.]

After mistakenly greeting five people, Song Ruochen finally met the main character gong’s childhood friend at the airport.

In the late autumn weather, Meng Yumian was bundled up in a thick down jacket, curled up in a wheelchair.

“Hello,” Song Ruochen stepped forward. “Are you Meng Yumian? President Jian asked me to pick you up.”

The original novel only mentioned he was frail. Who knew it had progressed to needing a wheelchair?

“Cough, cough… Yes, I am.” The childhood friend looked around, coughing dramatically. “Did Brother Jian not come?”

“President Jian has been very busy lately, so he asked me to pick you up,” Song Ruochen said in a reliable tone. “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you.”

He’d taken care of the stray cat outside his dorm for a whole year. The cat was still alive.

Meng Yumian looked up at Secretary Song’s cool profile, his expression tinged with disappointment. “…Alright.”

Still, this person was the president’s secretary, right? With such a high position, he should be good at taking care of people.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to your accommodations,” Song Ruochen said, pushing the frail beta’s wheelchair.

The wheelchair was surprisingly heavy.

Song Ruochen took a deep breath, gathered his strength, and gave a strong push. The wheelchair shot forward like a missile.

In the city center of A City, at a luxury apartment complex, Jian Yuheng, who had been busy all day, enjoyed a relaxing bath.

This business trip seemed to have completely worn Song Ruochen out. He’d been unusually quiet today and hadn’t shown up at the company.

Having grown used to that cold face hovering around him, Jian Yuheng found the office a bit dull without him.

After getting dressed, Jian Yuheng poured himself some red wine. Watching Secretary Song stir up trouble for his brother was, at times, quite entertaining.

Ding.

Jian Yuheng (naked) returned to the bathroom.

Jian Yuheng: “…”

Outside the airport, on a downhill slope, Song Ruochen was sprinting after the wheelchair.

Meng Yumian: “Ahhhhhhhhh!”

“I didn’t rewind enough!” Song Ruochen shouted. “I forgot to set a save point!”

Ding.

Jian Yuheng (naked) (wet) ended up back in the bathtub.

Outside the airport, on the downhill slope—

Meng Yumian: “Cough…?! Ah, cough, ahhhhhhhh!”

“No, still not enough. Rewind again!” Song Ruochen yelled.

Ding.

Jian Yuheng (naked) (wet) (surrounded by bubbles) lay peacefully in the bathtub.