Chapter 2 – It Suits You Well

"Alright, I will be over shortly. Thank you."

Xie Chengyun nodded, securing the lid onto his glass before turning to exit the pantry.

"Lawyer Xie should be busy, though he didn't mention a newcomer joining our group." Chen Xinyu stood at his workstation, handing a notebook and a pen to the person before him. "Chen Xinyu, fourth-year associate. You are Qi Yanze, right?"

"Hello. Yes, that is me."

Xie Chengyun watched as the young man stood up to extend his hand. He was exceptionally tall. From behind, his broad shoulders and narrow waist were striking; his shirt fit him perfectly, tracing the powerful, upright lines of his physique. Had they not been in a professional setting, his silhouette would have invited a great deal of imagination.

"Oh, Lawyer Xie is here." Chen Xinyu had only just finished the handshake when he noticed Xie Chengyun emerging from the pantry.

"Xiao Chen, give him a briefing on the progress of our current projects later. I will have a few words with the intern first."

The moment the words left his mouth, the young man turned around.

It was no wonder Sister Lin had given him such high praise in the pantry. At the moment Xie Chengyun saw that face clearly, he was also taken aback. The young man’s features were flawlessly handsome—deep-set eyes, a high and straight bridge of the nose, and a thin upper lip paired with a slightly fuller lower lip that exuded a sense of plump sexiness. His features were as chiseled and three-dimensional as a sculpture. He appeared clean and refreshing, his smile seemingly harmless. Coupled with a proactiveness that far surpassed most young people just entering society, he was the type of person who easily inspired favor in others.

"Lawyer Xie." Qi Yanze gave him a polite nod. "My name is Qi Yanze. I am here for an internship during my gap year. I look forward to your guidance."

"Lawyer Wang mentioned you. Do you have a moment to step into my office?"

"Certainly."

Once the glass door of the office was closed, sealing out the rustle of outside noise, Xie Chengyun took a sip of his tea and looked up at the person before him. While he wasn't his usual type, who could refuse working with someone who looked like this? The mere thought of it was aesthetically pleasing.

"Lawyer Wang was the one who interviewed you. Since he is busy on his end, he told me to have you follow me for the time being."

"I did not expect to be able to work under Lawyer Xie." Qi Yanze’s lips curled into a smile. "I have heard of Lawyer Xie’s great reputation for a long time."

"Oh? And what reputation is that?"

"Wasn't it Lawyer Xie who handled the Hong Kong stock market listing for that domestic internet giant a few years ago?"

"I was just one of the people on the HK side. I wasn't even the lead at the time; it is hardly worth a great reputation." Xie Chengyun shook his head with a smile. He was quite surprised Qi Yanze knew about that. Recalling what Wang Zhihe had said, he spoke with a bit of reserve. "I heard from Lawyer Wang that your personal background is excellent. Most non-litigation internships consist of dirty work—highly repetitive and tedious tasks where you learn very little. For now, I will have you start with some due diligence training to understand the basics. Later, when there is an opportunity, you can follow me."

He only mentioned the "excellent background" without bringing up the fact that the other was a well-connected relative of a brokerage big shot. Regardless, Wang Zhihe’s subtext had been clear: do not treat this young master like a disposable intern.

"Is that so? It is quite alright, actually. Internships are meant for learning from the foundations anyway." Qi Yanze smiled, taking the initiative to bring it up himself. "Since my uncle and Lawyer Wang are old classmates, perhaps he was too busy to take me on. I appreciate you taking the trouble."

Seeing that he was not at all evasive, Xie Chengyun stopped being indirect. He was somewhat curious why the nephew of a brokerage titan would want to be a lawyer. "Your family has a background in brokerage, and I see you studied finance as an undergraduate. Normally, you would head to investment banking or similar fields. Why come to the legal industry?"

"Oh, it is only my uncle. It doesn't really count as a family background. Besides, I have no interest in those things." Qi Yanze shrugged. "Truth be told, my family is like yours, Lawyer Xie—we are in engineering and construction. Didn't Lawyer Xie also choose to enter the legal industry instead?"

As Qi Yanze spoke, his eyes were filled with a smile that seemed entirely non-threatening. While Xie Chengyun’s family background was no secret, hearing an intern say such things made him instinctively frown. "Oh? How do you know what my family does?"

"Don't be nervous, Lawyer Xie." Qi Yanze blinked, looking somewhat innocent. "It is just that my uncle knew I was coming to Hengli for an internship, and he mentioned once that Lawyer Xie and my family used to be in the same industry."

"I see."

Xie Chengyun didn't doubt the explanation, though he hadn't expected Qi Yanze’s family to be from the construction industry like his own father’s, rather than a financial dynasty.

He suddenly remembered he had to give a client a response and stood up to look for the files needed for the afternoon meeting. "Then you should head back to your workstation for now. Let Xiao Chen familiarize you with the current tasks and progress. If you have any questions, you can ask Xiao Chen first."

He turned his back to start searching through the file envelopes on the bookshelf. Behind him, Qi Yanze did not move immediately. He just stood there, his eyes beginning to trace the lines of Xie Chengyun’s body with an unreadable intensity.

The man’s back appeared broad and dependable, especially with his jacket removed, revealing a frame encased in a waistcoat. It was clear at a glance that he hadn't abandoned his fitness routine despite a busy schedule; he possessed the rare, refined sexiness of a mature man. Qi Yanze whistled internally, his gaze sliding down to the rounded, firm curve of the buttocks hugged by the suit trousers. Under the office lights, he could see the play of shadows in the creases that invited scandalous thoughts.

Though he didn't particularly enjoy doing that sort of thing with men—and was even less interested in men older than himself—he had to admit that Xie Chengyun was truly beyond reproach in terms of appearance. Composed, handsome, and disciplined. Qi Yanze felt that if the day ever came, he wouldn't mind relying on a little medication to make it work.

When Xie Chengyun pulled down the file envelope and turned around, he found Qi Yanze still standing there, unmoving. The young man was looking at his tea cup with great interest.

"What is it? Is there something else?"

"Nothing. I am just a bit surprised that Lawyer Xie, like other older lawyers, enjoys drinking tea."

For a moment, Xie Chengyun felt a bit stifled. He didn't actually love tea all that much. It was simply because he had reached the position of partner at a relatively young age for a top-tier firm, and he feared people would gossip. After dealing with high-level corporate executives in their fifties and sixties for so long, he had grown accustomed to the pretense of drinking tea in the workplace. It was a way to blend into an older demographic, mimicking them as a disguise to prove his own "capability."

"I am not exactly young anymore, and drinking tea is good for the health."

Qi Yanze knew Xie Chengyun’s age, but he didn't feel that number was particularly large for a man.

"True. Tea is good for the complexion. No wonder Lawyer Xie has maintained himself so well." He wore a broad smile as he frankly extended his hand. "Then, Lawyer Xie, I look forward to your guidance from now on."

Xie Chengyun lowered his gaze to look at the broad, large hand the young man had offered and quickly shook it. "The same to you."

When their palms met, the warmth of Qi Yanze’s hand transferred directly to his. It was meant to be an ordinary handshake, yet Xie Chengyun felt his palm burning from the other’s temperature. He instinctively wanted to withdraw his hand, but the other person seemed to apply a bit of pressure. His brow furrowed slightly as he prepared to speak, but the other man quickly let go, making that slight squeeze feel like a mere hallucination. However, before he could react, he felt the skin of his thumb webbing being grazed twice by a finger—an ambiguous, lingering touch.

"Lawyer Xie, that red tie really suits you." Qi Yanze lowered his voice, leaning in close to Xie Chengyun’s ear. That warm, humid breath fanned against his earlobe, sending a faint itch through his heart.

He turned his head and met Qi Yanze’s cunning gaze. The wanton boldness and clear intent in the young man’s eyes were laid bare, like a giant python flicking its tongue. His eyes gleamed with the sharp light of a predator seeing its prey, making him look like a completely different person from the harmless youth he had been moments ago.

Xie Chengyun’s pulse throbbed at his temples. He thought he might have seen it wrong. Before he could even utter a polite, restrained "thank you," Qi Yanze withdrew his gaze. He reverted instantly to the image of a pure college student, speaking with perfect decorum. "Then I will head out now and leave you to your work, Lawyer Xie."

He finished speaking and left the room without waiting for a response.

When the glass door closed once more, Xie Chengyun tugged at his collar and let out a long breath. He could no longer tell if the gaze just now had been serious, or if his own long period of celibacy had created a delusion—one that made him question an intern who had only arrived today over a simple compliment.

But it was undeniable that the young man seemed to have a decent personality. Most importantly, his looks were superior. Having an intern like this follow him might actually be a way to liven up his dull and tedious work routine.