48 Chapter 48- Every Mountain has a Valley (1/2)
Relating to Episode 28 of Love O20.
Post-Presentation
It was a festive group that gathered in a private room of an exclusive seafood restaurant. Even though the four of them had planned on celebrating in Shanghai, the bitter taste that Zhen Yi Technologies' cheating left in their mouths needed to be washed away with good wine and good company.
Their plans had changed in the backseat of a limo as they were chauffeured from Feng Teng Technologies to Shanghai Airport. While Xiao Nai pushed forward their flights, Hao Mei booked a restaurant and the Troublesome Two contacted as many full time Zhi Yi staff as possible. Not everyone was available on such short notice and they didn't bother trying to contact the temporary staff who'd been hired on a short term contract. Everyone would be invited to the contract signing celebrations but tonight was just for those who were emotionally invested in their success.
Humming under his breath, Hao Mei tapped away at his phone.
Text to:World's Hottest Hacker
[Monkey and Old Man will send you an email soon about dinner. Wear your new suit.]
Text from: World's Hottest Hacker
[What new suit?]
Text to: World's Hottest Hacker
[The one hanging in your wardrobe.]
Text from: World's Hottest Hacker
[What?]
Text from: World's Hottest Hacker
[How did that get there?]
Text to: World's Hottest Hacker
[I invaded your privacy. Call it payback for the monastery.]
Text from: World's Hottest Hacker
[I don't like suits.]
Text to: World's Hottest Hacker
[I don't like monasteries.]
Their boarding call put paid to any further discussion and Mei settled in for the flight looking remarkably like the cat that ate the canary.
”Cheers!” Glasses chimed around the round table as everyone celebrated their victory.
”Thank you for all the late nights and hard work.” Xiao Nai raised his glass and everyone cheered once more.
”I thought you would have had your celebration in Shanghai.” Li Qiang looked at the four brothers sitting on the opposite side of the table. ”Why did you come home early?”
They all exchanged glances before You Ban Shan waved his glass in the air. ”Because we missed you all so much. We can all go to Shanghai for a feast when we sign the contract.”
”That's right,” Qui Yong Hou agreed. ”You're all welcome to order whatever you want tonight. It's on our boss. No one's going home sober.”
Mei chuckled as he poured a glass of wine for KO and then one for himself. They'd all agreed to keep quiet about the display of poor showmanship, and no one listening to Ban Shan or Yong Hou would be able to tell that anything was amiss.
”Ah...” Ban Shan's stomach rumbled loud enough to be heard by Hao Mei and Yong Hou, sitting on either side of him. ”You know what? I didn't eat anything on the plane in order to make room for this feast.”
”let's order more dishes. We can't let laosan off the hook that easily.” Mei grinned at Xiao Nai.
”But we haven't finished our food yet?” Wang Wei looked at the dishes already gracing the table.
Mei waved it off. ”Don't be stupid. We should make the most of tonight's free meal. I'm the core strength of our team, so I must eat more to make up for the brain cells that I sued.” He laughed as he leaned back in his chair. A finger stroked along the edge of his collar and he turnedd to look at KO. The hacker had his arm over the back of Mei's chair and was looking at him with the type of fondness usually reserved for dump pets or small children. Mei narrowed his eyes at the older man but wouldn't hide his smile completely. It also helped that KO had turned up wearing the suit Mei had bought him... and looking even better to eat than the seafood feast. It was probably just as well he'd run late and Mei was already inside when he finally got a look at him. If they'd run into each other outside Mei may very well have dragged him off and skipped the celebratory feast. Dragging his mind out of the gutter and back to food, Mei waved to the waitress.
”Excuse me, I'd like to order.”
Laosan was lucky the food was delicious. After reminding everyone of Mei's promise to shout them dinner, he'd sulked until the new dishes had arrived. At that point, the smells wafting from the table had coaxed him out of his bad mood. It also helped that KO had whispered something to the staff and a collection of small dishes had appeared with a variety of spices. Only for Mei and Xiao Nai would KO add these spices and the moans of appreciation from those two were making the rest of the table envious. Bei Wei Wei was able to share Xiao Nai's good fortune but Mei zealously hoarded all of the food that KO seasoned for him. It served them all right for making fun of him and not letting him get any crab. Even Yong Hou had stolen the crab right off his plate! Mei only managed to get some because KO snuck it onto his plate when no one was looking.
”Mei... Are you going to tell us about your two houses?” Yong Hou looked at the spiced scallops on Mei's plate, salivating over the smell but fully aware of KO's hooded eyes paying close attention to anyone trying to steal his partner's food.
”Yeah Mei...”
”Hey, that's right!
”Tell us Mei-ge!”
”When my parents came here last month I didn't want to go back with them so they bought them for my future wife.” That was close enough to the truth that Mei wouldn't trip himself up.
”But why did they buy two residences?” And immediately, Yong Hou tripped Mei up.
”Is it because....” Mei looked at Laosan in hope but Xiao Nai left his words hanging long enough for Ban Shan to take the bait.
”You want to have two wives?” Eyes wide, Ban Shan pointed an accusatory finger at Mei.
”No! Laosan...” Mei shook his head, giving Xiao Nai a look of betrayal. How could Laosan leave
him hanging like that? As if able to read Mei's mind, Xiao Nai caught his eye.
”Sandstorms don't just happen once.” The table laughed and Mei groaned, shaking his head. He was doomed.
”He actually wants two wives when we don't even have a girlfriend!” Ban Shan pretended outrage but the laughter was evident in his voice.
”Yeah... how can you have two wives?” Mei put a hand up to forestall the rest of Yong Hou's comment.
”Wait... I almost forgot... One of my apartments is still empty. You can stay there for free if you want to.”
There was a brief moment of silence before debate broke out around the table.
”Me!”
”No, me!”
”Have pity on me in my dog kennel!”
”Hey, hey hey... it's a very small apartment... It's only good for one person...”
Yong Hou grabbed Mei's hand. ”Bro, we've already lived together for four years. You're not dumping me are you?”
”You already have a huge apartment.” Ban Shan manhandled Yong Hou out of his chair, taking it for himself and leaning in to Mei. ”Mei and I have already bathed together before. Beat that.”
Mei shifted uneasily in his seat as he felt KO lean in behind him. As the others continued teasing Yong Hou and Ban Shan, KO breathed in to Mei's ear.
”Bathed together before?”
”Not like that... Pervert...” He wasn't game to look behind him and see what sort of expression was on KO's face.