Has the Boss Bost His Temper Today? - Chapter 14

Membership-only private clubs offer extremely high levels of privacy, making them a favorite haunt for many of the rich and powerful.

“Secretary Duan can really eat, he truly deserves a gold star.”

“He can even eat this? Not a picky eater at all, very good, very good indeed.”

“Did he finish that big bowl of rice? He even wants a refill? Excellent, simply excellent.”

“Yanzhou, your little secretary has a great appetite, you should praise him!”

Chu Yanzhou’s expression was peculiar, “…”

No, why is this guy getting showered with flowery praise just for eating a meal?

Duan Shiming held his bowl, his cheeks puffed out roundly. His chopsticks flew as he stuffed food into his mouth, not even noticing the bit of sauce on the corner of his lip. He swallowed every bite clean, his eyes bright with the pure enjoyment of the meal.

The way he ate was so hearty that it actually stimulated the appetite of everyone watching.

He was exactly the kind of “voracious eater” that elders loved the most.

“Do you want more of this?” Director Chen pointed at the plate of lemon shrimp that had been cleared, knowing his own son loved anything lemon-flavored.

Duan Shiming chewed the food in his mouth and lifted his eyes to look at Chu Yanzhou.

Meeting those wide, expectant eyes and seeing the cautious inquiry, which made even the oil on his lips look endearing, Chu Yanzhou gave a helpless smile, “I apologize for the display, everyone. My little secretary has quite the appetite, let’s get him another serving.”

Duan Shiming bit his chopsticks and smiled with total satisfaction, “Thank you, thank you”

“You’re still young and growing, it’s good to eat more. Order whatever else you want,” Chairman Luo said, before signaling the club manager to bring over several more lemon-flavored dishes.

“Wipe your mouth,” Director Chen pulled out a wet wipe and pressed it into Duan Shiming’s palm.

“Oh, okay,” Duan Shiming took the wipe and rubbed his face haphazardly before setting it down beside him.

Director Chen picked up the used wipe and tossed it into the nearby trash bin.

Chu Yanzhou quietly observed every single interaction.

The atmosphere was too warm, it didn’t seem like a first meeting at all. Is this guy really a ‘connected’ hire? And which family could he be from to have Chairman Luo and Director Chen taking such good care of him?

If that were the case, he’d rather the boy actually be a connected hire than the alternative he was starting to suspect.

His peripheral vision occasionally scanned under the table, but he didn’t see any suspicious or harassing movements.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m full,” Duan Shiming truly couldn’t eat another bite and waved his hands in refusal. He looked at his “Uncle,” raised his drink toward him, and said, “Remember to give my boss plenty of support for this project, okay? Give money where there’s money, and strength where there’s strength. We’re counting on you to smooth out the connections! Come on, cheers!”

Chu Yanzhou:  Who taught this guy to socialize like this?

Maintaining his smile, he nudged Duan Shiming under the table.

Duan Shiming downed his drink in one gulp, but after being stepped on, he looked at Chu Yanzhou in confusion, “Boss, you stepped on my foot.”

Chu Yanzhou: “……”

He gave an apologetic smile, “My apologies, everyone. My little secretary is quite young, please forgive any lapses in etiquette.”

“It’s fine, he’s young, it’s good to have a lively personality. Your Secretary Duan has been instrumental in this project, he didn’t stop singing your praises during our meeting.”

The foot pressing against the secretary’s shoe under the table came to a dead stop.

Instrumental?

Chu Yanzhou had a strange feeling rising in him. Could it be…

Did the ‘connected hire’ actually put in some work?

“Hey, President Chu.”

Chu Yanzhou felt a nudge against his thigh. He glanced sideways at Duan Shiming and saw him suddenly leaning in close. His pupils contracted. Wait, why is he getting so close, is he drunk and trying to kiss.

“I’m going to take a call.”

Duan Shiming whispered to Chu Yanzhou, then stood up and walked out.

Chu Yanzhou maintained his composure, though his palms were sweating.

“Yanzhou, you’ve gotten used to this guy by now, haven’t you?”

Chu Yanzhou looked toward Chairman Luo.

Chairman Luo smiled, “We’ll have to trouble you to be patient with him.”

Duan Shiming had just stepped out of the room and was about to answer his phone when he heard suppressed sobbing from around the corner.

His expression changed instantly. Sensing something was wrong, he walked over quickly.

In the corner of the hallway, he saw an Omega being pinned against the wall by an Alpha wearing a waiter’s tuxedo!

Upon closer inspection, it looked like President Yan’s fiancé!

Holy crap! Time for some heroism!

Ji Huaichuan was clutching his neck. He was completely unable to resist an Alpha in a sudden rut. His expression was pained and humiliated as he was held down. The side of his neck was already bitten and bleeding, the blood soaking into the collar of his clothes.

That damn waiter!

With a thud, the un-dialed phone hit the floor.

Immediately following was the sound of rapid footsteps.

Before Ji Huaichuan could react, he was unexpectedly pulled back. He stumbled a couple of steps, and once he regained his footing, he saw Duan Shiming, who had suddenly rushed forward, throwing a punch at the waiter.

He covered his neck and backed away a few steps, watching in a daze.

Isn’t this… Chu Yanzhou’s little secretary?

The young man had dragged the waiter out. The punch he threw cut through the air in a sharp, lethal arc. His tall frame moved with crisp, efficient grace as he slammed his fist into the waiter’s jaw.

He was clearly trained.

The waiter’s lip split as he stumbled back. However, he seemed unable to feel pain. He glared at Duan Shiming for interrupting him, but then, as if catching a scent of other pheromones, his eyes turned red and he lunged at Duan Shiming.

“Be careful, this waiter is in a rut!” Ji Huaichuan immediately grabbed Duan Shiming’s arm.

“Find somewhere safe to stay and call security.”

Duan Shiming raised a hand to signal Ji Huaichuan to step back.

Seeing the waiter pounce, he immediately unbuttoned his suit jacket to give his arms and shoulders room to move. He dodged with an agile sidestep and delivered a backhanded elbow strike straight to the other man’s throat!

Ignoring the waiter’s painful groan, he followed up with a fierce knee strike to the abdomen, then, with eyes darkening, he slammed his elbow down hard onto the man’s back!

“Ah—”

The waiter’s knees slammed into the ground, his face flushing red with pain. Combined with the manic irritability of a rut, he began to struggle wildly, flailing his arms and even managing to grab Duan Shiming around the waist.

Duan Shiming remained expressionless. He swiftly stripped off his jacket, wrapped it around the waiter’s neck, and used his superior strength to pin the man’s arms behind his back, binding them with the suit sleeves!

“Urgh”

The waiter made a strangled sound as his breath was cut off.

Suddenly, a slender hand clamped onto the back of his neck, fingers precisely gripping the gaps between the cervical vertebrae.

With a crack of bone, the waiter’s limp head was forced upward. His vision shifted, feeling as though his throat was being crushed.

The waiter’s pupils dilated. His blurred vision reflected this beautiful face with a radiant smile, and it was like looking at a ghost.

“To dare bite an Omega randomly, you really must be tired of living.”

Duan Shiming looked down at the kneeling Alpha and let out a short laugh. He hooked a red wine bottle from the side with his shoe, using his sole to tilt the neck of the bottle upward.

He bent down, his long legs straight, the suit trousers perfectly tracing the tight, attractive line of his waist.

His hand gripped the neck of the bottle.

Ji Huaichuan’s eyes widened in shock.

At that moment, the door to the private room behind them opened.

“Duan Shiming!”

Crash—

The crisp sound of shattering glass echoed through the hallway.

The wine bottle was smashed by hand just millimeters above the man’s shoulder. Shards flew everywhere, some grazing the kneeling Alpha’s cheek. The blood dripping from his face mingled with the dark red wine splashing over his body.

The Alpha’s pupils shrunk, his whole body trembling with pain and terror. In his fright, he saw that beautiful face smiling like a demon, and he collapsed pathetically on the floor.

Duan Shiming’s face was slightly flushed. He panted softly with the corners of his mouth tilted up. He raised an eyebrow and took a step back. Seeing the Alpha paralyzed with fear, he finally let go of the bottle neck, letting it drop to the floor with a clack. A cut had opened on his palm, but he didn’t seem to feel the pain.

“Duan Shiming!!!”

The reprimand came a second time from behind.

Duan Shiming snapped out of it, turning his head while still catching his breath.

Chu Yanzhou met those incredibly bright eyes. He saw the boy still breathless, his chest heaving, his bangs wet with sweat, the corners of his eyes slightly red, and his cheeks flushed with the heat of the exertion.

He looked like someone who had gotten high on the thrill of a fight, completely unaware he’d done anything wrong, the type who wouldn’t stop until someone shouted at them.

Chu Yanzhou strode forward with a dark expression, immediately grabbing the hand cut by the glass, “You still have the nerve to smile? What happened? Why were you fighting?!”

Duan Shiming frowned and looked up at him, “This Alpha was bullying someone!”

“Who?”

Duan Shiming lifted his chin and pointedly tattled, “Him!”

Only then did Chu Yanzhou notice the perpetrator being restrained by security, looking utterly pathetic. He looked back at the “victim” in front of him, who was currently beaming with pride, “…”

The waiter, who had been beaten into a state of mental daze: “…”

Security immediately dragged the man away.

“I even performed a ‘heroic rescue’!” Duan Shiming tilted his chin up and pointed at Ji Huaichuan, “Look.”

Chu Yanzhou looked toward Ji Huaichuan with a grim expression.

Ji Huaichuan took a handkerchief from his assistant to cover his bitten neck. He met the deep, brooding gaze of the Alpha, which seemed to condemn him for being there and for causing someone to get hurt.

He shifted his gaze to Duan Shiming, a gentle smile appearing on his pale face, “Thank you for saving me. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

The voice was so gentle and sophisticated that it actually made Duan Shiming feel shy.

Duan Shiming felt a bit embarrassed, “Oh, it was nothing.” He tried to wave it off, but his wrist was gripped tight by a large hand. He glanced at Chu Yanzhou.

“How about I give you an award and hire a dragon and lion dance troupe for you?”

Though the words sounded like a compliment, they were laced with suppressed fury.

Duan Shiming: “???”

Chu Yanzhou pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and pressed it firmly against the bleeding cut on the boy’s hand. He found the sight of it incredibly irritating. His tone was cold and heavy, “So capable of saving people now, my Secretary Duan is truly impressive.”

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