The girl, however, wasn’t about to let them off. She raised her voice deliberately, making sure everyone around could hear, and called after them, “What right do you have to be jealous? The controlling owner of Sang Corporation isn’t qualified to take on a project now? You guys are so impressive!”
Then she turned back, grinning at Sang You. Sang You gave her a thumbs-up, his cold expression breaking into a smile. “Nice! That felt so good to hear. I’ll treat you to that exclusive little cake from XX’s shop later.”
The girl cheered, “Yay~”
This was what she liked most about Sang You!
Because just a moment ago, she had been worried that Sang You might soften and smooth things over, putting her in an awkward position.
She had encountered that kind of “friend” before.
She and others would be in the right, fighting for their interests — and then this person would chime in weakly, saying, “Don’t argue anymore. It might not be their fault. Maybe we’re part of the problem too.”
She would just be like — “???”
After that, she cut ties completely, refusing to have anything to do with such people again.
Both she and the young man beside Sang You were elites among the new hires — sharp minds, impressive resumes, more perceptive than most. They had long known that they were chosen by Gong Ze and would become Sang You’s core team in the future.
They firmly stood by Sang You’s side.
But privately, they still worried. After returning from getting water, although Sang You didn’t seem affected, he buried himself in his workstation, his eyes fixed on his computer the whole time — driven by pressure and a burning determination to prove himself.
Once he threw himself into the work, he forgot to eat and sleep, looking noticeably more haggard.
The young girl, Xiao Mei, said worriedly, “I hope Sang Sang can successfully win this project and shut them up for good.”
“Don’t worry. I suspect this project won’t fail.”
The young man, Liu Cheng, adjusted the arm of his glasses and said in a soft, quiet voice, “Boss Gong would never give Sang You a project that was bound to fail. This is Sang You’s first major project — the intention is to establish his authority.”
“Then I’ll do another deep dive on the competitor’s capabilities. Leave the details to you, and the technical side to me.”
“Mm.”
When Gong Ze learned of the whole situation, he smiled faintly.
“Although the team is still young, they’re already taking shape.”
[The people you carefully selected for him have been put to good use.]
“Mm.”
The system felt envious.
In the past, the system had only seen its Host’s sadistic, domineering side. It had assumed that Gong Ze, as a teacher, would hold a little whip in one hand and homework in the other, smiling gently while whipping his student to death.
But instead —
The lazy, cunning, deeply indifferent man displayed an overwhelming sense of control and possessiveness — along with patience and tenderness.
What Sang You didn’t know was that every person allowed to come into contact with him or stay by his side had been screened by Gong Ze in advance.
Take Xiao Mei, for example.
Cheerful personality, outstanding performance in school, with many special skills. She was someone Gong Ze had gone to great lengths to recruit.
Take Liu Cheng, for example.
Quiet, but with a strong, bold inner core, extremely meticulous and perceptive — he had the potential to become an excellent secretary.
From their personalities to their skills, every one of these people was custom-tailored by Gong Ze for his young master.
Even the “villains” were chosen based on Sang You’s weaknesses.
Gong Ze appeared to delegate the task and let Sang You do it on his own, but in fact, he read every word of the completed proposals on Sang You’s computer.
Whether good or bad, the man said nothing.
You only grow after taking a fall. You only become more meticulous after making a mistake.
When Sang You clashed with people, when the young master secretly hid away, red-eyed and alone, facing the pressure by psyching himself up, Gong Ze would darken with repressed heartache. Silently, from a distance, he would watch his young master finish being upset, then pull himself together and face everyone again.
When Sang You clashed with his team, unable to command authority, when he was challenged —
Gong Ze’s eyes would narrow, fury churning within him. He had already calculated how those arrogant elites would die — a dozen times over.
The day Sang You led his nervous team out the door to attend the bid opening —
Gong Ze calmly straightened his suit for him, tied his tie, and told him, “It’s okay if you fail. Just think of it as gaining experience.”
Then, as soon as the young master stepped out of the house, Gong Ze disguised himself and followed.
Gong Ze stood in a corner of the venue, watching every tiny nervous move his young master made.
When his young master successfully won the project, breaking into a surprised, joyful smile and cheering with his friends, Gong Ze laughed quietly along with him.
Even though he had called in all his connections the day before and paved the way for his young master,
Gong Ze was still like a parent sending their child on an errand for the first time — secretly following behind.
Every adult male the child passed on the street became, in the parent’s eyes, an unreasonable threat.
Every fall the child took had a parent behind it, fists clenched, suppressing the urge to rush out and pick the child up.
When the child successfully returned home with the soy sauce, the parent acted as if they had never followed, never worried — calmly praising their child as if they were a little superhero.
A mature man holding his little boy’s hand, teaching him how to become an adult.
[You spoil him too much.]
The system sighed with emotion.
[You’re usually so calm, Host. I thought you were never afraid.]
It turned out that even the most vicious, notorious demon in the Transmigration Department could, because of love, become a fretful, worn-out old father.
Even though at nineteen, he himself had once carried his teacher across an entire war zone, walking sixty kilometers over three days, with a stray bullet still lodged in his leg.
Yet as an adult, seeing his nineteen-year-old boyfriend get cheated by coworkers, he would frown with an expression that screamed: I’m about to start taking revenge on society.
The system commented: [Heartless and insane.]
“It’s understandable for me to be worried. I can’t be 100% sure of success. Even if I’ve paved the road, he’s the one who has to walk on it himself.”
Gong Ze had done fifty percent of the work for Sang You. But without the other fifty percent of Sang You’s own sweat and effort, it still wouldn’t have worked.
“This time, he won on his own.”
The man who performed the deed and left, hiding his achievements and fame, left the venue.
Gong Ze smoked a cigarette, watching Sang You and his companions chattering excitedly nearby about where to go for their celebration dinner. He curled his lips slightly. “Besides, don’t slander me. I’ve always been a gentle person.”
???
Do you even hear yourself talking?!
Before the system could tear into him, Yan Liben called, excitedly claiming credit: “A Ze, I already asked Yan Cheng to help with Sang Corporation’s government tender project. A Ze… it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. Can we meet today…”
Gong Ze’s smile disappeared. Cold, expressionless. “Oh, sorry, don’t have time. Another day.”
Before Yan Liben could say another word, Gong Ze mercilessly hung up.
The system mimicked his words, dripping with sarcasm: [“Don’t slander me~ I’ve always been a gentle person~~~”]
Gong Ze: …
The system shook its head smugly: [Sigh — love or not, a mountain stands between~]
Gong Ze: …
·
Before Gong Ze had even finished one cigarette, Sang You called to give him the good news.
The young master, thinking Gong Ze was at the company, pretended to sound upset. With a choked voice, he said, “Gong Ze, the bid opening is over. If I didn’t get the project, would you be mad at me…”
Gong Ze, who had watched the whole thing from start to finish, suppressed his laughter. He pretended to be silent for a moment, then sighed in frustration and said, “You failed? It’s okay. Try harder next time. This project really was difficult.”
His long, narrow black eyes curved, but his voice was deep and low.
“Honestly, even if I had given it to someone else, they might not have been able to do it either. It was too hard. At the time, I was thinking — who could possibly complete such a difficult project? Probably not even me if I tried. Sigh.”
Gong Ze let out a heavy sigh.
The system was staring at him in shock.
“Holy shit, you’re actually good at this, you jerk!”
Sure enough, Sang You had been holding back his excitement all along. Hearing that Gong Ze had doubted himself and still pulled it off, he burst out laughing and said loudly, “Just kidding! I got it!”
Gong Ze’s expression shifted to one of “shocked disbelief.” “Really?! You actually got it? That’s amazing!”
“N-Not that amazing, hehehehe.”
Hearing Sang You’s silly laugh, Gong Ze couldn’t help but smile.
Sang You was clutching his phone, grinning like a little fool.
With his mouth stretched so wide it almost reached the back of his head, he tried to play it cool and act like it was no big deal. “Ah, well, I was pretty scared at first, but who knew? I barely even tried and I still got it. Guess I’m pretty talented after all.”
The team members around him were covering their mouths, barely holding back their laughter.
Gong Ze’s gaze softened as he listened. “Yeah, my young master is really amazing.”
“Hehe, enough about that. Hurry up and come to XX Restaurant! We’re all here eating—my treat. You have to come!”
“Don’t worry. With news this good, I’ll definitely be there.”
“Mhm! Bye, love you!”
Brimming with excitement, Sang You gave a loud kiss to his phone. The sound turned Gong Ze’s heart soft as a cloud, and he gently pressed his lips to the screen as well.
“I love you too.”
My young master.
Gong Ze had the driver pick up some clothes from home, and he changed out of his athletic wear in the car so no one would suspect anything.
When he arrived at XX Restaurant, Sang You’s delicate face was radiant with joy. Hopping over like a little rabbit, he threw his arms around Gong Ze.
Amid the teasing cheers from the team members, Gong Ze wrapped an arm around him, kissed his flushed cheek, and then pressed their lips together, tasting a hint of alcohol on Sang You’s shy mouth.
When they pulled apart, Sang You’s tongue felt numb and tingly.
He lowered his head, his moist eyes too bashful to meet Gong Ze’s grin—utterly captivating, as if in the midst of an intimate night.
“Ohhh—”
“Hehe, so sweet, boss.”
Everyone clapped and teased.
Seeing Sang You so embarrassed he looked ready to bury his face in his chest, Gong Ze held him close and joked with the team, “Alright, alright, stop laughing. If you keep this up, your boss will be sleeping in the study when we get home.”
“Pfft haha, boss, you’re really whipped.”
The group was falling over with laughter.
Sang You’s eyes widened as he glared at Gong Ze. “When have I ever made you sleep in the study?”
You’re slandering me!
“Little fool.”
Gong Ze’s eyes crinkled as he caught Sang You’s finger and kissed it.
“Now that we’ve secured this project, everyone’s getting a bonus. Each person on your team gets fifty thousand. That’s separate from the company—I’m paying it personally. The company’s project bonus will be paid out along with your regular salary.”
Hearing about the extra big bonus, even though this team was made up of elite talents—many earning between half a million and a million a year—fifty thousand was still fifty thousand.
That was nearly a month’s salary, on top of the company bonus.
The private room went silent for a moment, then erupted in joyful cheers.
It felt as festive as the New Year.
“Thank you, boss!”
“Ahhh, that’s amazing! Thank you, boss, thank you, Sang Sang!”
Gong Ze was making Sang You look good. And Sang You was no longer the naive rookie he once was—he interlaced his fingers with the man’s, feeling utterly delighted.
After the meal ended, Gong Ze held the drunk Sang You in the car and took out his phone to transfer an extra twenty thousand each to Xiao Mei and Liu Cheng, the two assistants assigned to Sang You.
“Thank you for taking care of him during this time.”
“Keep up the good work with Sang You. The company’s future depends on him and all of you.”
The two exchanged a glance after seeing the transfer and the message, unmistakable joy shining in each other’s eyes.
They knew for sure now—siding with Sang You had been the right bet all along.
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