Chapter 7.04 – I like men

Editor: DarkNaivety

Proofreader: meowmiao

Although it was only a private dinner, it was organized by those in the real estate industry. Moreover, City A was vigorously developing land in the financial district and invited many bidders. Inevitably, interested parties would arrive early and take the opportunity to inquire about it.

At the reception, Meng Ze and Xiang Han attracted a lot of attention the moment they appeared. Some who were more alert quickly came forward and spoke to them. “I didn’t think President Meng would also come. It seems that the piece of land will soon belong to you.”

Meng Ze smiled slightly and replied politely: “How so? I heard that Yi Xin’s President Jiang is also very interested in that piece of land.”

“Haha, it’s always either one of you two. The rest of us can only watch from the side.”

“That’s right…”

Everyone echoed polite remarks. Originally, Xiang Han stood next to Meng Ze, but he soon found himself pushed back to the side. However, he hadn’t noticed as he was busy studying the plot that was about to happen.

Yi Xin was the male lead’s company and President Jiang obviously referred to the male lead, Jiang Yi. The pieces of land at the financial district were mostly auctioned, and required money and luck to obtain. What he wanted most was to win the tender lot in the heartland area, because once a skyscraper was built, it would inevitably become a new landmark in City A.

In the original plot, the land was naturally won by the male lead, but because of funding problems, he finally chose to jointly develop it with Meng Ze’s company, Ze Yuan. It was precisely due to this that Meng Ze was able to leverage on this opportunity to buy Yi Xin, troubling the male lead greatly.

However, the male lead’s misfortune was temporary, while the villain’s misfortune was fatal. When the company encountered a crisis, not only did it not hurt the male protagonist, it even stimulated his relationship with the female lead. As for the villain… after losing his role as a catalyst, he was defeated by the male lead and trampled on for the sake of allowing readers to relieve their anger.

Xiang Han looked at Meng Ze, who was still surrounded by everyone, and silently lit a candle for him in his heart.

When Jiang Yi and the female lead, Xin Lu Yao, showed up, they immediately attracted a lot of attention. The number of people around Meng Ze gradually decreased.

Frankly speaking, in terms of strength, Jiang Yi’s company was no match for Meng Ze’s Ze Yuan. Their two families were evenly matched. The weak Jiang Yi’s ability to win was actually all due to the female lead’s scheme.

Once the female lead appeared, Meng Ze’s gaze was drawn over. He had known of such a person by Jiang Yi’s side and had always wanted to… poach her.

Jiang Yi was exchanging polite greetings with a few others when he swept a glance over and cursed in his heart: It’s enough that you snatched my business, but what the hell are you looking at my girlfriend for?

Xiang Han felt extremely gloomy. He had dressed up so beautifully, yet Meng Ze was still attracted to the female lead? He looked down and stared at his attire. That’s right, not only the colour, but even the design was similar.

As the adage goes, between two who wear the same outfit, the uglier one loses. How about he acts the role of the poisonous male cannon fodder and accidentally dirties the female lead’s dress?

Sigh, the more roles he played, the worse he felt himself becoming. Xiang Han picked up his glass and walked towards the female lead with a conflicted expression.

To hit or not to hit? That was the question. But before he could answer it, the female lead solved it for him.

Xin Lu Yao disliked partaking in pretend pleasantries. After arriving, she had nothing to do but eat. Noticing a person beside her, she thought she was in a waiter’s way and hurriedly tried to get up. Due to this, she accidentally bumped into Xiang Han’s elbow.

Xiang Han received a fright and immediately reached out a hand to put some distance between them, subconsciously turning the wrist holding his beverage towards himself. Then, he received a body full of alcohol.

Xiang Han: “…” Luckily he had his boobs in place, or else it would have ‘gone straight through his heart’.

Xin Lu Yao let out a cry of surprise, her expression a mix of panic and apology. She hurriedly took some napkins from a passing waiter and tried to help Xiang Han wipe it off.

“Are you okay? Are you cold? I’m sorry, I was careless…” Xin Lu Yao was upset.

“I’m fine.” Seeing her apologize repeatedly, Xiang Han was embarrassed since he was also the one who… ahem.

Especially when she wiped at his chest, he couldn’t help but awkwardly try to block her.

“What’s going on?” Meng Ze and Jiang Yi had walked over. Jiang Yi directly pulled Xin Lu Yao to his side and asked her with concern.

Xin Lu Yao immediately pushed him aside and apologised, “It’s my fault. I accidentally dirtied this lady’s dress.”

Meng Ze frowned when he saw Xiang Han’s wet clothes and wanted to have him return. However, afraid that the latter would misunderstand his intentions as concern, he hesitated.

Due to this brief moment, Xiang Han spoke first. “It’s fine. I have an extra set of clothes. I’ll just go get changed.”

Meng Ze heard this and nodded, immediately dismissing any other thoughts. “In that case, hurry on.”

Xiang Han nodded absentmindedly, wanting to leave quickly, but he suddenly heard the female lead say to him, “I’ll come with you.”

Xiang Han: “…”

A bump like this actually bumped up some friendship points. The main point was that she even felt apologetic. After changing, she saw him standing alone without a partner, and brought him around to taste the food available.

“Let me tell you, banquets like these are super boring. Apart from delicious food, everything else is meaningless. Oh right, are you President Meng’s secretary?”

“That’s right.” Xiang Han smiled.

What happened to the so-called capable and successful woman? Why did she turn out to be a glutton?

Xin Lu Yao: “…” Her voice is so pretty and gentle! So well-mannered and easy to get along with that she didn’t even get angry after having her dress dirtied.

“Right, try this. It’s super yummy! I just ate three plates of it.”

“Uh…” Xiang Han was helpless and could only try one. “It’s not bad.”

“Only ‘not bad’? You must have had a lot of delicacies!”

Naturally!

Xiang Han was also a glutton, so he was completely unable to resist the attack of his own kind. In the beginning, he was still able to hold out, but towards the end… he was the one leading the female lead and giving out recommendations. “This one is nicer and goes well with xx, but since it’s already quite late, it’s better to eat less…”

“En, Oishi¹delicious in japanese!” Xin Lu Yao stuck up a thumb and felt that Xiang Han was not only pretty and zealous, but also knowledgeable. He was simply her female goddess.

After being dragged around to eat, she was extremely embarrassed and felt that she needed to repay this favour.

“Han Han, I know of a Sichuan restaurant in the city that is delicious and serves a generous portion. Let’s add each other on WeChat, I’ll treat you to a meal there in the future.”

Xiang Han: “…” Lady, we’ve only met for less than two hours. Why are you calling me so intimately already?

“Uh, actually I’m rather busy…” He tried to reject her as he scanned the room before asking, “Huh, where’s President Meng?”

The topic changed and Xin Lu Yao also followed his gaze and looked around. She shook her head and said, “Not sure, he was just here.”

After saying so, she continued to probe, “Han Han, may I be as bold as to ask if you like President Meng?”

Xiang Han was startled. “Is it that obvious?”

Xin Lu Yao shook her head. “That’s not it, it’s just…you’ve unconsciously been looking at him for some time.”

Xiang Han was silent for a moment before he decisively admitted it, “I’m indeed…pursuing President Meng.”

In any case, there was nothing he couldn’t admit. It’s just…why does the female lead’s expression seem strange?

Xin Lu Yao’s eyes were almost cramped from blinking as she desperately tried to signal for him to look behind. She was extremely startled as President Meng, who had just been missing a moment ago, had suddenly reappeared.

Xiang Han followed her line of sight and saw Meng Ze standing expressionlessly behind him. He was immediately dumbfounded.

“P-President Meng.” He stuck a hand up and robotically greeted.

With a deep frown, Meng Ze turned around and left without a word.

Xiang Han’s hand stiffened mid-air. Xin Lu Yao was also stunned; Her goddess was so beautiful and amazing, how could he be unmoved? Although it had nothing to do with her, she couldn’t help but want to seek justice for her goddess!

After the banquet ended, Meng Ze and Xin Lu Yao met once again. One wanted to poach the other, while the other wanted to gather information for her goddess. Just like this, two people who had nothing to do with each other engaged in pleasantries.

Xiang Han watched from afar and immediately grew vigilant. Although the female lead truly liked Jiang Yi and wouldn’t feel anything for Meng Ze, he was worried that Meng Ze may be influenced by the plot and begin to develop feelings for her.

Thinking of this possibility, he unhappily downed a cup of alcohol before reaching for another.

After having several glances, he had the urge to use the restroom. Now that he had become tipsy, he completely forgot the problem of gendered bathrooms.

Meng Ze and Xin Lu Yao parted ways on bad terms after only a few words. He had drank a little earlier and needed to use the restroom. However, he had just begun to let it out when he suddenly saw Xiang Han push the door open and enter. With a fright, he nearly wet his own pants.

President Wang teased him from the side. “Hey, President Meng, did you get drunk? Your hands are unsteady.”

After saying this, he looked over and his hands immediately trembled. His leather shoes got wet.

“That…” Recalling that this beauty seemed to be President Meng’s secretary, he immediately turned around and frantically zipped up his trousers. Then, he said awkwardly, “You… are rather spirited. In that case, I won’t disturb you two.”

Meng Ze: “…”

Xiang Han had drank too much and had a smile hung on his face. His steps were unsteady, so after allowing President Wang to pass, he swayed with each step he took.

Meng Ze’s expression cracked. He lowered his head, quickly zipped up his pants and fastened his belt before dragging the muddle-headed Xiang Han out with a dark expression.

“Secretary Geng, let me give you a stern warning today. I will not like you, so don’t ever do such a thing again.”

“W-What thing?” Xiang Han was flabbergasted. He immediately sobered up a little after seeing the restroom’s sign. Fuck, he’d forgotten he was now in female clothing.

Meng Ze saw his blank expression and thought to himself: Act! Continue acting! You’d even come all the way to the male restroom, simply incorrigible!

“To tell you the truth, I only like men. In the future, stop having such unrealistic dreams. If you can’t do it, quit. The company doesn’t lack a secretary.”

Meng Ze’s words were harsh but Xiang Han wasn’t stunned due to this. Rather…Meng Ze liked men?

That’s impossible. If he liked men, why did he say he’d only like girls back when he had broken their engagement? One moment, it was female, the next moment, it was male. Which on Earth is it?

• 1
  delicious in japanese ↩︎