"Lie down and rest a while, stop thinking about it." Qi Shi'an pushed Shen Duoyi down onto the sofa, then went to lock the door, "At home, my parents haven't given their final stance, but they haven't explicitly opposed either, my grandpa has already accepted and agreed."

Shen Duoyi sat up again: "Don't let it turn unpleasant, don't let this affect your relationship with the elders. My grandpa is old and can't take shocks, but your dad and mom shouldn't be upset by us either."

Qi Shi'an sat down sideways: "It's not that serious, but how dramatic was your friend's coming out back then? Why do you seem so scared?"

Shen Duoyi reached out and hugged him: "I don't have many family members, so I find family particularly precious. I'm afraid you'll damage your relationship with the elders because of this, and I'm afraid you'll suffer. But I'm more selfish, thinking more about myself."

Qi Shi'an asked: "How are you being selfish?"

Shen Duoyi hugged him a bit tighter: "I'm afraid too much pressure from all sides will make you give up on me."

The office fell silent for a moment.

"Shen Duoyi, when you say that, I really feel hurt." Qi Shi'an sounded somewhat disappointed, "Do I make you feel that insecure?"

Shen Duoyi shook his head: "It's because I feel too secure, so even the slightest unstable factor makes me anxious, afraid this sense of security will leave. I really care about you, I..."

Qi Shi'an's hurt immediately vanished. He lowered his head to kiss behind Shen Duoyi's ear: "Can't even speak properly, I know you care about me, and I care about you too. Alright, get some sleep, you're too tired."

Shen Duoyi turned his head, pressed against Qi Shi'an's ear, and said in a barely audible but incredibly firm voice: "I love you."

"What did you just say?"

"I love you."

Qi Shi'an closed his eyes. He had been urging Shen Duoyi to sleep, but unexpectedly found himself entering Zhuangzi's butterfly dream first.

The two squeezed together on the sofa, rain still falling outside. Qi Shi'an draped his suit jacket over Shen Duoyi, then held him even tighter. After confessing, Shen Duoyi seemed to have gained life points, his eyes bright again.

He even suddenly smiled: "Loosen up a bit, your cufflinks are digging into my back."

Qi Shi'an reluctantly loosened his hold a little: "You've been looking so gloomy, and now that you're finally happy you start picking on me."

Shen Duoyi tilted his head back and closed his eyes, but still smiling: "Then I'll sleep, and praise you when I wake up."

The lunch break wasn't very long, just enough for a short nap. When they woke up, it was already work time, but both were reluctant to leave each other's warm embrace, neither willing to get up first.

"No wonder dating isn't allowed within the company, it really affects work." Shen Duoyi mumbled while grabbing Qi Shi'an's wrist, "They look very nice, mainly because your hands are beautiful."

Qi Shi'an laughed: "So you were serious about praising me after waking up."

If they kept talking, it would never end. Shen Duoyi sat up and fixed his hair, then put on his shoes preparing to return to his department to work. He suddenly stopped at the door, turned around and said: "Are you free this weekend? I want to take you to meet two people."

Qi Shi'an gladly agreed: "Sure, I'm free."

The light rain continued all day, and the sky that usually didn't darken until seven or eight was already gloomy by six. A taxi stopped at Ming'an's main entrance, and when the door opened, a black umbrella emerged.

Kong Yinhong was dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, but the dark circles under her eyes betrayed a hint of fatigue. She would usually have concealed them with makeup, but her light makeup suggested she no longer cared.

She had left the research institute half an hour early specifically to catch Qi Shi'an at the end of his workday, avoiding the possibility of him dodging her. Employees were trickling out of the building’s main entrance as she walked against the flow into Ming’an Building.

The phone rang as Qi Shi'an was packing up his things. Seeing that it was his mother calling, he immediately answered.

“Mom?”

Beep—

Qi Shi'an glanced at the screen, realizing the call had already been disconnected.

Kong Yinhong, just as her call connected, saw Shen Duoyi stepping out of the elevator. She had just witnessed her son embracing a man on the street last night, learned about his relationship with a man, and now discovered that his partner worked at the same company. The dark circles under her eyes seemed to deepen.

Shen Duoyi stopped in his tracks. He hadn’t expected to see Kong Yinhong in the first-floor lobby. Colleagues passed by, some greeting him, leaving him nowhere to hide, completely exposed under her scrutiny.

“Auntie.” Shen Duoyi quickly composed himself, walking toward Kong Yinhong and greeting her politely. “Are you here to see Mr. Qi? He should be coming down soon.”

Kong Yinhong lowered her voice, looking at him sternly. “You work at Ming’an? Do you realize how disastrous it could be if your colleagues found out?”

Shen Duoyi could only respond, “We’re very careful. It’s rush hour now, so there are a lot of people. Why don’t you sit on the sofa over there, or perhaps I could treat you to a drink at the nearby café?”

“I don’t need anything,” Kong Yinhong rejected curtly.

In the meantime, Qi Shi'an had come down, stepping out of the elevator with Zhang Yiming. Both froze for two seconds upon seeing Shen Duoyi and Kong Yinhong, before Qi Shi'an strode over with measured steps.

“Auntie, what brings you here? And with Team Leader Shen?” Zhang Yiming quickened his pace. “Auntie, do you have time to check on us today? Missing me, perhaps?”

Kong Yinhong’s expression softened slightly. “Yiming, have you been busy? You look like you’ve lost weight.”

“Busy, yes. My schedule’s a mess, but Shi'an’s even busier, working overtime constantly,” Zhang Yiming said, glancing at Shen Duoyi and introducing him without much thought. “This is our consulting department’s Team Leader Shen, a capable asset.”

Kong Yinhong made no reaction, her gaze fixed on Qi Shi'an as he approached. Then, with pointed intent, she remarked, “I didn’t expect you to work at the same company. Bold move.”

Passersby occasionally cast glances at the conspicuous group standing in the lobby. Sensing the tension, Zhang Yiming tactfully suggested taking Kong Yinhong out for dinner. Better to leave the scene first.

Once outside Ming’an Building, a light drizzle carried by the breeze hit them. Kong Yinhong stepped aside to stand under the eaves, instructing Zhang Yiming, “Yiming, can you hail a car for me?”

Zhang Yiming caught on and headed toward the street.

With fewer people around now, Qi Shi'an wanted to handle the situation as he had the previous night. “Duoyi, you should head home first.”

Kong Yinhong said nothing, casting a cold glance at Shen Duoyi.

The evening lights began to illuminate the city. Shen Duoyi’s shirt was damp from the drizzle. He wiped the raindrops from his cheek and stood firmly before Kong Yinhong.

“Auntie, I haven’t properly introduced myself. I’m Shen Duoyi, and I’ll be twenty-eight soon.”

Qi Shi'an looked at him in a daze, curious about what he might say.

Shen Duoyi spoke earnestly, “Last night caught me off guard. I hid behind Shi'an and let him handle everything. That won’t happen again. Your misunderstanding or opposition—I will face them with him and work to resolve them.”

Qi Shi'an lowered his head with a smile, playfully catching raindrops in his palm.

Kong Yinhong asked, “How can I be sure you truly love him and aren’t just taking advantage of his feelings?”

“Mom, what could anyone gain from taking advantage of my feelings? A promotion? A raise?” Qi Shi'an shook the water from his hand, trying to stop the conversation.

Unexpectedly, Shen Duoyi pressed his lips together and said, “I can resign.”

Kong Yinhong sighed. “You don’t need to make concessions for me. Such concessions are predicated on my approval of your relationship, which I cannot accept.”

She watched as Shen Duoyi’s shoulders grew visibly wetter from the rain. Unable to bear it, she tugged him under the eaves. “You kids don’t understand what it’s like to be a parent. Tell me this: while you’re determined to overcome my objections, have your parents happily accepted your relationship?”

Qi Shi'an stepped in again, “Mom, I’ll explain this to you later.”

Under Kong Yinhong’s unwavering gaze, Shen Duoyi, with her hand still on his arm, admitted with difficulty, “I haven’t told my family.”

Her hand immediately let go. In a calm tone, she said, “You haven’t even told your own family, yet you expect me to accept it. You want recognition in Shi'an’s family, while relegating him to an invisible role in yours? That’s despicable.”

Shen Duoyi stepped back into the rain, standing like a defendant under judgment, his guilt now public.