Volume One, Chapter 145: The Taste
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It had been just over a month since their last unpleasant parting, yet Fu Linhan felt as though an eternity had passed—so long that the two who had once been the closest of brothers had suddenly become strangers.
The feeling left Fu Linhan deeply irritated and restless.
“Well, well. President Bai, here to discuss business?”
When Bai Yinian saw Fu Linhan and Xiang Xinlei beside him, he knew the two had come on a date. He answered indifferently and was about to enter the private room when Fu Linhan blocked his way.
“What kind of business are you discussing? You don’t mind letting me listen, do you?”
Usually, Fu Linhan and Bai Yinian were inseparable, like conjoined twins. Their families’ businesses also helped one another, and neither had ever avoided the other.
Many times, when Bai Yinian discussed business with someone else, Fu Linhan would sit there playing games on his phone.
Whenever Fu Linhan did not feel like working, he would dump his work on Bai Yinian and slack off at the side.
The two had been at odds lately. Fu Linhan had stubbornly refused to seek Bai Yinian’s help, and dealing with his own work every day had nearly driven him mad.
Now, seeing Bai Yinian—and the man beside him, who was openly flirting with him—made his anger surge.
When Bai Yinian said nothing, Fu Linhan’s expression darkened further.
“What? Afraid I’ll steal your trade secrets?”
The thought that Bai Yinian was guarding himself against him only made Fu Linhan angrier.
Bai Yinian let out a quiet sigh and looked at Xiang Xinlei.
“I was worried you might feel uncomfortable.”
“There’s nothing uncomfortable about it!”
Fu Linhan turned to Xiang Xinlei. “Xinlei, you can go back first.”
Xiang Xinlei was very good at reading the situation. Although she had no idea what had happened between Fu Linhan and Bai Yinian, she could tell that Fu Linhan was in a terrible mood.
Clearly, provoking him now would bring her no benefit whatsoever.
“All right. Take your time talking.”
Everyone accompanying Bai Yinian knew Fu Linhan. Since Bai Yinian did not object, naturally, neither did they.
As soon as he entered the private room, Fu Linhan dropped himself into the very center of the sofa, as though he were the guest of honor.
The others exchanged glances. None of them dared sit beside Fu Linhan, so they took seats on the other sofas instead.
Bai Yinian did not sit beside Fu Linhan as he usually did, nor did he hand over his phone for Fu Linhan to play with. Instead, he sat on the sofa opposite him.
The man who had been clinging to him sat down beside him.
Seeing this, Fu Linhan’s expression grew even darker and more ominous.
The group then began discussing business.
Fu Linhan had no interest whatsoever in their conversation. His eyes remained fixed on the man beside Bai Yinian.
During the discussion, he heard Bai Yinian call the man Qin Man.
“President Bai, you can just call me Xiao Man.”
Bai Yinian smiled faintly and replied, “All right.”
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Bai Yinian rarely smiled. When he did, it was as if ice had melted, and the sight was exceptionally beautiful.
Qin Man’s cheeks flushed, his expression coy and bashful.
Just looking at him made Fu Linhan want to vomit.
The others chatted and discussed business in a warm, harmonious atmosphere.
Only Fu Linhan sat there like a harbinger of doom, his murderous aura so thick that even an evil sword immortal could not have absorbed it all.
Once the business was concluded, they naturally stayed for a meal. And with a meal came drinking.
Even during dinner, Bai Yinian did not sit with Fu Linhan. The two were separated as though by an entire galaxy, gazing at each other from afar.
“Xiao Man, President Bai is willing to invest in our project. You should properly toast him.”
Sitting beside Bai Yinian, Qin Man raised his glass and smiled at him.
“President Bai, I’ll drink to you.”
“All right.”
Bai Yinian raised his glass and drained it.
“President Bai is certainly straightforward.”
Qin Man was delighted. “President Bai, you’re so handsome.”
There was another person at the table—Fu Linhan. Knowing that he was Bai Yinian’s closest friend, Qin Man did not dare leave him out either. Carrying his glass, he walked over to Fu Linhan.
“Young Master Fu, I’ll drink to you.”
“Hmph.”
Fu Linhan gave a cold laugh, leaned back in his chair, and cast a sidelong glance at Qin Man.
“And in what capacity are you toasting me?”
Qin Man’s expression stiffened. “I…”
“You may toast me, but what’s with that tiny glass? Are you looking down on me? Waiter, bring me a larger glass!”
The waiter was quite literal-minded and promptly brought over several large beer glasses.
“Fill it.”
Qin Man glanced at Bai Yinian. Seeing that Bai Yinian had no intention of helping him, he could only fill the glass to the brim.
“Young Master Fu, I toast—”
“Don’t you know my rules? Anyone who toasts me has to drink three glasses first.”
Everyone except Bai Yinian looked rather uneasy.
They had no idea how they had offended this formidable young master.
“I’m sorry, Young Master Fu. I’ll drink right now.”
The glass contained pure red wine. Finishing even one glass in a single gulp was difficult, let alone three.
By the time he reached the second glass, Qin Man’s expression was already one of profound discomfort.
Fu Linhan sat there with one leg crossed over the other, showing no intention of letting him off.
When Qin Man gritted his teeth and was about to drink the third glass, a slender, beautiful hand pressed down on it.
“That’s enough.”
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“President Bai…”
When Qin Man saw Bai Yinian, he pretended to be dizzy and leaned into his arms.
Seeing that Bai Yinian did not push Qin Man away, Fu Linhan’s eyes nearly split with fury. He rose and glared at him angrily.
Bai Yinian was slightly taller than Fu Linhan. Whenever Fu Linhan looked at him, he had to tilt his head up just a little.
“What? Feeling sorry for him already?”
Bai Yinian knew that Fu Linhan was merely angry with him. He patted Qin Man’s back.
“You all leave first.”
Seeing that the atmosphere was wrong, the others naturally did not dare linger.
Qin Man, however, was reluctant to go. He had only just heard that Young Master Bai liked men, and with such a good opportunity before him, he did not want to waste it.
He took one step toward the door, then collapsed back into Bai Yinian’s arms.
“Young Master Bai, I feel dizzy.”
Bai Yinian frowned. Before he could speak, Fu Linhan abruptly pulled Qin Man into his arms.
“Dizzy? Lean on me. I’ll take you home.”
He wrapped an arm around Qin Man and began to leave. Qin Man looked utterly bewildered, completely unaware of what was happening.
“President Bai…”
Bai Yinian seized Qin Man by the arm and tugged him back toward himself.
“Have you had enough?”
The anger Fu Linhan had suppressed for several days erupted in an instant.
“What? You can’t bear to let him leave with me?”
Before Bai Yinian could answer, Fu Linhan gripped Qin Man’s chin.
“Since someone’s going to sleep with you anyway, why don’t you come with me instead?”
“What?”
Qin Man was dumbfounded. No one had ever told him that Young Master Fu liked men too!
Bai Yinian’s expression instantly turned dark and terrifying.
“Fu Linhan—”
Fu Linhan did not even spare Bai Yinian a glance. His eyes remained fixed on Qin Man.
“How about it? My skills are no worse than his. Come with me, and I’ll treat you well.”
“This… I…”
Qin Man did not dare refuse Fu Linhan, yet he was even less willing to offend Bai Yinian. Caught between the two, he was utterly torn.
“Fu Linhan, stop acting crazy!”
Only then did Fu Linhan look at Bai Yinian, a mocking curve tugging at the corner of his lips.
“You like him that much? Then I’m even more curious whether he tastes better than everyone else.”
Fu Linhan grabbed Qin Man by the collar, lowered his head, and kissed him.
Qin Man’s eyes widened in disbelief. Their lips barely touched—or perhaps did not touch at all.
Smack!
Bai Yinian pulled the two apart and slapped Fu Linhan across the face.
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