FOBTS CH94.1

Chapter 94 Extra 9: Please Check Xiaoshi Group Surveillance Footage

[Hello, welcome. I am the Xiaoshi Group surveillance camera.]

 [Please click here.]

 [Loading and reviewing daily surveillance footage of Xiaoshi Group.]

 [… Surveillance loading…]

 [Surveillance files include company main entrance, parking lot, front desk, cafeteria, hallways, stairwells, elevator area, meeting rooms, and other public spaces.]

 [To protect employee privacy, private areas such as personal offices, desks, rest areas, and restrooms are not monitored.]

 [Loading complete. Welcome to watch.]
——

[01]
[x year December 24]
[6:00:00]
[Surveillance area: Company main entrance]
A white puppy passes by.
Puppy: Woof woof?

[x year December 24]
[8:00:00]
[Surveillance area: Company parking lot]

 A sedan with license plate xA888g, worth about 500,000 yuan, smoothly backs into a parking spot. Assistant Gong gets out holding a fresh bouquet of flowers.

 “Payday again~”

 Assistant Gong’s phone rings.

 “Hello?” Assistant Gong answers, “What’s up, Gong Zuo? I just arrived at the company.”

 “No need, no need, spend your internship money yourself, no need to buy me gifts.” 

Assistant Gong says, “Xiaoshi’s salary is not low, Second Young Master is nice too, your brother here is doing well.”

 “Still want Secretary Song to introduce you to internships?” Assistant Gong says, 

“You’re still young, don’t learn bad habits.”

 “Remember to eat breakfast and focus on class.” Gong Huo says, “Bye, I’m going to work.”

[x year December 24]
[8:59:00]
[Surveillance area: Xiaoshi Group first floor lobby clock-in area]

 8:59:01 Jian Feng clocks in, Assistant Gong watches.

 8:59:27 Front desk clocks in, Assistant Gong is pushed aside.

 8:59:45 Three advertising department employees clock in, Assistant Gong is squeezed to the side.

 8:59:55 Jian Yuheng clocks in.

 8:59:59 Song Ruochen clocks in.

 9:00:00 Clock-in machine closes.
 

9:00:02 Assistant Gong screams: “No!!”

 “I came at 8 o’clock.” Assistant Gong yells.

 “I forgot to clock in.”

 “You can go get the surveillance footage after work and ask HR to provide a proof.” Song Ruochen, who just finished a sprint, pants.

 “You all clock in at the last minute.” Assistant Gong says.

 “It’s winter.” Song Ruochen says, “Even cattle and horses don’t like to get up early.”

9:01:00
Employees who finished clocking in each go to their posts. Only Song Ruochen and Jian Yuheng remain in the corridor.

 “This is my second winter in City A.” Song Ruochen says, “Why do I feel this year is colder than last year?”

 “It’s a bit colder this year.” Jian Yuheng says, “After this busy period, we can find a warm southern island to vacation, maybe stay at a hotel I like, their breakfast and tea snacks are good.”

 “What work do you have?” Song Ruochen asks, “Secretary Song should fulfill her duties.”

 Jian Yuheng: “…”

__

[02]

 [x year December 24]
[10:10:11]
[Surveillance area: Xiaoshi Group main entrance]

 A beta girl with a ponytail runs over quickly and asks the guard if he has seen a white puppy.
The guard helps retrieve the footage.

[10:30:20]
[Surveillance area: Xiaoshi Group main entrance]

 Secretary Song holds a cute white puppy and is reluctant to let go.

 “Don’t worry, we found it for you.” Secretary Song politely hands the puppy to the beta girl. “Next time use a sturdier leash.”

 “You people at Xiaoshi Group are so kind.” The beta girl says, “You’re the only ones who helped me check the footage. Secretary Song, you’re amazing, it’s like you just guessed where my puppy was.”

 Beta girl: “I really want to send you a banner (for gratitude).”

 “No need.” Secretary Song says, “Just a small favor.”

 “The secretary is really powerful.” The guard proudly says, “Which other group has such a competent CEO secretary?”

 “Do you know Nan Chi?” The guard says, “He was so wild early on, but was beaten down by just a few plans from Secretary Song.”

 The beta girl hugs the puppy gratefully and leaves.

 Secretary Song’s polite smile turns into a crooked grin as she mutters to the air, “Your scan of Jian Yuheng’s abilities is average, but scanning dogs is quite handy.”

 Song Ruochen: “:D”

 Song Ruochen leaves the area.

[x year December 24]
[10:23:01]
[Surveillance area: Xiaoshi Group stairwell]

 Jian Yuheng enters the first-floor stairwell and starts climbing.

[10:33:34]
[Surveillance area: Xiaoshi Group stairwell]
Jian Yuheng exits the 30th floor stairwell.

[x year December 24]
[10:35:03]
[Surveillance area: Xiaoshi Group parking lot]
Song Ruochen passes by the area.

[10:40:10]
[Surveillance area: Xiaoshi Group parking lot]
Song Ruochen passes again, this time returning, carrying several bags.
[Click here.]
[Zoom in.]

 Song Ruochen carries a box of raspberry chocolates, a box of selected grapes, and a small jewelry box.
He opens the chocolates and pops one into his mouth.

[11:30:33]
[Surveillance area: Xiaoshi Group employee cafeteria]

 Song Ruochen lingers by the ice cream machine. Today he chooses one scoop blueberry and one scoop strawberry ice cream, and sprinkles some white chocolate on top.

 “Secretary Chen.” Jian Yuheng calls, “Come here.”

 “Coming.” Song Ruochen scoops some ice cream and stops at the dining table.

 He takes a small spoonful of ice cream and offers it to Jian Yuheng’s lips, “Boss Chen, taste this carefully crafted ice cream.”

 Jian Feng carries a full plate of food passing by.

 “Strawberry flavor?” Jian Yuheng guesses, “Pretty fragrant.”

 “The company’s ice cream selections are getting better.” Song Ruochen says, “This company really feels like home.”

 “What did your parents ask you to do earlier?” Jian Yuheng asks.

 “They said it’s Christmas soon, to buy some small gifts and pick them up near the parking lot.” Song Ruochen says, “Lots of food, a tea set, and a jade grape ornament.”

 “Your parents love giving me gifts too.” Song Ruochen says, “I always get presents during holidays.”

 “My mom gave me lots of jujubes.” Jian Yuheng says, “Before, my brother wasn’t good at talking, so my parents had to help coax Yan Ci.”

 Jian Feng passes by with a CD.

 Jian Feng looks back.

 Jian Feng walks out of surveillance range.
 

“Look.” Jian Yuheng says, “It’s snowing.”

 Song Ruochen turns to look out the window. “No wonder it was so cold this morning.”

 “You held onto the sheets and wouldn’t let go, it was hard to drag you out of bed.” Jian Yuheng says, “Calling Secretary Song to get up is very hard.”

 “Why didn’t you say it was hard when you pinned me on the bed last night?” Song Ruochen asks.

 Song Ruochen glances at the ceiling camera.

 “No problem.” Jian Yuheng says, “Usually no one watches the cafeteria footage, plus it’s far away, so they can’t hear what you’re saying.”

 Assistant Gong passes by with a CD, looking back.

 “Second Young Master.” Assistant Gong says, “Others are just eating, you two are just chatting.”

 “So what?” Song Ruochen asks.

 “Carry on.” Assistant Gong says.

 “Will it snow this afternoon?” Song Ruochen asks.

 “Should be, snow in City A winters accumulates quickly.” Jian Yuheng says.

 “Da Zao and Fuzzy Monster  invited me to play in the snow tonight.” Song Ruochen’s eyes sparkle, “I want to build a huge snowman.”

 “Snowman architect, eat first.” Jian Yuheng urges, “It’s cold, or you’ll catch a chill.”
“Okay.” Song Ruochen focuses on eating, “I’ll go nap in your office after lunch.”

__

[03]
[12:00:00]

[Surveillance area: Corridor outside Jian Yuheng’s office]
Song Ruochen was chatting with Assistant Gong. After a while, Song Ruochen, yawning, entered the office.

 [13:00:24]
[Surveillance area: Corridor outside Jian Yuheng’s office]

 Song Ruochen yawned as he walked out of the office, his drowsiness slightly eased, with a slight flush on his cheeks from a nap.

 Jian Yuheng walked out of the office.

 “Assistant Gong said he wants to give you a 3D puzzle?” Jian Yuheng asked.

 “Yeah, he’s giving it to his brother, but his brother doesn’t want it,” Song Ruochen said. 

“He said to give it to me to play with. It’s a puzzle of a ship.”

 “Giving it to a college student makes sense,” Jian Yuheng said.
The two of them walked out of the corridor’s camera range.

[13:30:27]
[Surveillance area: Xiaoshi Group company front desk]

 Shortly after lunch break, five or six employees gathered chatting.

 “Does Secretary Song have an official event this afternoon? I saw he wore a tie today,” Employee 1 asked. “Secretary Song in formal wear is really easy on the eyes.”

 “Yeah, at 4 PM, A City Business Daily is doing a feature interview with Secretary Song. The theme is something like how to become a professional secretary,” Employee 2 said. 

“I bet this issue will sell well; Secretary Song looks amazing in the photos.”

 “Haha, you all missed the little detail,” Employee 3 said. “The tie Secretary Song wore—brand and pattern—I’ve seen Second Young Master use that one before.”

 “So what? A married omega wearing his alpha’s tie,” Employee 1 smirked. “I noticed that Second Young Master Jian and Secretary Song seem like a cold and aloof pair on the surface, both business elites, but actually, their relationship is really close, all the little details prove it.”

 “Secretary Song isn’t aloof at all; if you get to know him, you’ll see,” said the front desk receptionist Yue Bing. “He’s quite nice and has helped me several times. I often bring him butter cookies, which he really likes.”

 “I also like feeding Secretary Song,” Employee 4 said. “Thinking about the A City Business Daily interview featuring our very own sugar and butter cookie feeder, I feel proud.”

 “Cut it out, haha,” Employee 3 said, “Don’t steal Second Young Master’s credit, he feeds him the most.”

 “Secretary Song is really impressive,” the omega receptionist Yue Bing said. “Since the business daily’s founding, they’ve only interviewed company board members or CEOs, and Secretary Song is the first secretary they’ve invited.”

 The sunflower seeds on the front desk had been noticeably depleted.

 “Hahaha, that explains why Secretary Song dressed so formally today,” Employee 2 said. “He looks amazing in a white shirt. His figure from behind is great, the waist so slim.”

 “Haha, I prefer seeing him in pink or light purple sweaters. He’s worn those a few times—super sweet style, with a tie at the back of the collar,” Employee 1 said.

 “But sometimes his style is very cool, black, silver, those cold tones, really high-end,” Employee 4 said. “I always feel Secretary Song can pull off so many styles: sweet, cool, professional, even street market styles.”

 Employee 4 glanced up at the surveillance cameras.

 “Do you think anyone’s listening to us?” Employee 4 asked.

 “Don’t worry, no one cares about the front desk cameras,” Yue Bing said. “And it’s lunch break, chatting is normal, no badmouthing either.”

 Employee 4: “That’s true.”

 Employee 5: “If there’s an interview this afternoon, I want to slack off and go watch.”

 “Second Young Master Jian and Secretary Song have been married for three or four months now, right? I took a ton of wedding favors that day,” Employee 3 said. “They come and leave work together every day, their relationship is really good.”

 “Secretary Song is amazing. Facing the boss all day at work, and then facing the boss at home every night, and he’s not even scared,” Employee 4 said.

 “Secretary Song handles things flawlessly. No one can find any fault,” Employee 1 said. 

“If I were like him, I wouldn’t fear the boss and could walk around the office like I own it.”

 “Secretary Song even naps in Second Young Master’s office every day,” Employee 2 said. “Looks like Second Young Master specially modified the nap room.”

 More sunflower seeds disappeared from the front desk.

 Employee 1: “Honestly, our Xiaoshi Group’s management is good-looking. A few days ago, at the internet company alliance meeting, both Nan Zhi and Xiaoshi’s executives attended. Nan Zhi’s management is really bad-looking. Before Li Secretary left, there was at least someone decent; now it’s all a bunch of ugly faces.”

 Yue Bing: “Don’t say that. Nan Zhi seems close to bankruptcy. Since last year, they’ve invested in several projects with big losses and cash flow issues. Many old employees quit.”

 “No choice. AI tech can’t compete with Xiaoshi Xiaoye’s R&D team, and in entertainment, Secretary Song’s creativity and talent management are unmatched. After 

Lu Luyeye, Secretary Song’s short drama projects have made several small stars famous,” Employee 2 said.

 Yue Bing: “Talented horses are common, but good trainers are rare. Secretary Song is great at picking people; the small stars he selects are all reserved and shy in front of cameras.”

[13:59:30]
[Surveillance area: Xiaoshi Group company front desk]

 “It’s almost 2 PM,” said the front desk receptionist Yue Bing. “Let’s stop chatting and get back to work.”

 “Let’s go,” Employee 1 said.
Only Yue Bing remained at the front desk.

[14:09:33]
[Surveillance area: Xiaoshi Group company front desk]

 “Hello,” Yue Bing greeted with a standard smile. “Do you have an appointment?”

 “I… don’t have one.” A beta girl holding a small white dog and a plastic bag said, “Could you please help deliver this to Secretary Song? Thanks for helping me find the puppy.”

 “Sure, no problem,” Yue Bing accepted the plastic bag.

[14:25:25]
[Surveillance area: Xiaoshi Group company front desk]

 “Hello, do you have an appointment?” Yue Bing asked.

 A sharply dressed man in a suit said, “Newly opened real estate in East City, Lakeside Scenery, currently for sale…”

 “No advertising, please,” Yue Bing dismissed him.

 “Uncle security guard,” Yue Bing said, “Could you turn on the two guard robots Secretary Song bought?”

 “I’ll go check,” the guard said. “The batteries were taken out by the CEO’s wife recently.”

__

[04]

[15:00:55]
[Surveillance area: Xiaoshi Group elevator]

 The elevator doors opened, Song Ruochen entered.

 The elevator rose and opened again, Jian Yuheng entered.

 “Second Young Master, there’s a new partner proposal in your email that needs your review,” Song Ruochen said. “I just accompanied General Manager Jian to meet this new partner and had afternoon tea.”

 “How was it?” Jian Yuheng asked. “What kind of person are they?”

 “Pretty good-tempered,” Song Ruochen said.

 Jian Yuheng: “How so?”

 “I accidentally handed your brother a faulty pen,” Song Ruochen said. “He was about to sign when he found no ink and shook it. A Chinese ink painting appeared on the new partner’s chest.”

 “The new partner laughed it off and said it was fine, but I asked for a replacement,” Song Ruochen said. “I’m here to protect your brother’s dignity.”

 “Your brother is starting to cause trouble too,” Jian Yuheng twitched the corner of his mouth. “You are who you hang out with.”

 “Who do you mean by ‘ink’?” Song Ruochen asked.

 “Wait a second,” Jian Yuheng said. “Look up.”

 Song Ruochen: “?”

 Song Ruochen: “0.o?”

 “On your neck, the pen mark. Do you like tilting your head when you twirl a pen?” Jian Yuheng handed over the documents he was holding to Song Ruochen. “Here, I’ll wipe it off for you.”

 Song Ruochen held the documents, tilting his neck, allowing the alpha’s thumb to rub his neck.

 The ink was gone, but a flushed red patch spread on his snow-white skin.

 “Ah, I forgot,” Jian Yuheng said. “I have wet wipes in my pocket.”

 Song Ruochen: “…”

 “You did it on purpose,” Song Ruochen said, snapping all the documents he held back into Jian Yuheng’s hands.

 “It’s fine,” Jian Yuheng said. “It’s just a little red. Besides…”

 “Besides what?” Song Ruochen asked.

 “Besides, I still have the kiss marks on your neck. One or two, what’s the difference?”

 The omega spoke quickly, mouth opening and closing as he listed old and new grievances.

 “Shh… there are cameras in the elevator,” Jian Yuheng said, raising the document board to block the camera’s view.

 Jian Yuheng then lowered the board, and the surveillance footage resumed.

 Song Ruochen leaned against the elevator wall, rubbing his lips.

 “Second Young Master, this is the company,” Song Ruochen said.

 “My tie looks great on your neck,” Jian Yuheng said. “I wish only I could see Secretary Song dressed like this today.”

 Song Ruochen: “…”

 Song Ruochen grabbed the document board and raised it but didn’t block the camera.
He reached out five fingers and tugged at the second young master’s collar.

 “Even,” Song Ruochen said.

Song Ruocheng put down the clipboard that didn’t actually block the view.

The elevator doors opened again, and Assistant Gong came in, looking surprised.

“You two? Not using the stairs?” Assistant Gong asked.