Chapter 912

Beckett slammed the joint complaint letters from several departments onto the desk. "Take a look at this. While everyone else conducts business meetings professionally, you're the only one dragging clients to bars, KTVs, and private clubs. Think you're clever, don't you?" Carl lowered his head guiltily, muttering under his breath, "I call it knowing my audience. Did my research... The clients happen to enjoy that kind of thing. Besides—" He swallowed hard before adding, "My project completion rate is stellar. They're just jealous." Beckett pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache brewing. "And now you’ve gone and hired someone who doesn’t even meet the recruitment criteria. You—" His disapproval was obvious. Carl clenched his jaw, barely holding back. Madeleine had a sinking feeling—Carl was about to get himself punched. Sure enough, in the most cowardly tone imaginable, Carl blurted out the most reckless words possible. "Mr. Beach, that’s a classic case of 'do as I say, not as I do'! You bent the rules to hire Maddy back then, and look how that turned out—a hidden gem meeting her perfect mentor. How do you know the person I found isn’t just as talented?" The office fell dead silent. Carl had phrased it diplomatically. When Beckett first kept Madeleine as his assistant, her qualifications hadn’t met the standard either. Yet her competence had left everyone speechless. Carl himself had been skeptical at first, dismissing Madeleine outright—until her skills shut him up for good. Now he judged people purely on ability, not degrees. Sure, credentials mattered, but they weren’t everything. Seeing Beckett’s fist clench, Madeleine quickly stood and wrapped her arms around him. "Um... I think Carl has a point." Beckett took a deep breath, then delivered his boast with full dramatic flair. "My wife swept every scholarship at Pinebrook’s A University, got in as the top scorer in the national college entrance exams—just missing a diploma on a technicality. You really think your little street-food girl compares?" Carl opened his mouth, then meekly corrected, "Not street food... She sells oden..." "..." Beckett was convinced Carl would be the death of him. "Fine. Does your oden girl compare?" Carl pulled out his phone and pulled up their profiles. "Yu Buyu, sells oden. Scored 678 on the college entrance exam—came from a small county town. Could've gone to a top university, but had to drop out and work because of family circumstances." "Ling Xiaoxiao, guaranteed admission to Nanchang Foreign Languages University. Freakish talent for languages—speaks at least five foreign languages and three Chinese minority dialects. To her, Korean and Japanese are 'minor' languages. That's why those scammers targeted her, tricked her into entertaining foreigners at a club. During her escape, she injured one Japanese guy and three traitorous lackeys. Bloodline awakened, combat skills off the charts." Carl proudly introduced his two young employees. "..." Beckett cleared his throat. "With skills like that, why'd they need rescuing?" "Well... I was cheering her on from the sidelines when one of those lackeys took a swing at me. She stepped in out of sheer righteousness..." Carl scratched his head sheepishly. Madeleine couldn't help laughing. "So you're saying the girl actually saved you?" Carl grinned shamelessly. "Hey, mutual salvation! I did call the cops for backup, didn't I?" Madeleine gave Carl a thumbs-up, then turned to Beckett. "I think Brother Zheng's two new hires are pretty impressive. Don't you agree?" Her voice carried an unmistakable edge. Could Beckett possibly disagree? "I think... they're fine." Like he'd dare say otherwise. Carl winked at Madeleine and scampered off before anyone could stop him. Beckett frowned. "He's always doing whatever he wants, and everyone's complaining. You just keep indulging him." Madeleine chuckled, picking up a complaint letter from the floor. "There's an easy fix—just publicly distribute Carl's bonus to everyone else." Beckett raised an eyebrow. "Not a bad idea." Madeleine leaned against his shoulder. "Am I terrible?" Beckett nodded. "A little. But I like it." Outside the door, the secretary knocked lightly. "Mr. Beach, Ms. Shen Rou, the CEO of Park Group, would like to see you." Without waiting for a response, the secretary pushed the door open and stepped inside. Noticing Madeleine was also present, she tensed and lowered her head. "Shall I let her in?" Madeleine studied the new secretary with an amused smile. The woman was undeniably attractive—her outfit polished and sophisticated, exactly the kind of style Beckett would appreciate. "Is the secretary's office line just for show?" Beckett frowned, his tone sharp. "Next time, pick up the phone." The secretary bit her lip, flustered. "I—I apologize, Mr. Beach. It's my first day, and I'm still getting familiar with procedures." Beckett's expression darkened, his patience wearing thin. "HR mandates a seven-day training period. You still haven’t learned how to use the office line by now?" His voice turned icy. "Focus on your job, not whatever else you're thinking about." The secretary clenched her hands nervously before quickly retreating. The moment the door clicked shut, Madeleine shot Beckett a disapproving look. "Honestly, you have zero tact. How could you talk to her like that? She's just a girl." "I swear, that’s Pei Chuan’s secretary, not mine." Beckett raised three fingers in mock solemnity. "I’d rather have Carl—" Madeleine burst into laughter. "Oh, I believe you. With that level of cluelessness, who else would put up with you besides me?" Beckett narrowed his eyes, catching the teasing edge in her words. "Sweetheart, was that a compliment or an insult?" Madeleine nodded earnestly. "Definitely a compliment." ... Harbor City Hospital. Gu Yun was finally discharged. Pei Chuan packed up his belongings and helped him leave. From the moment they entered the hospital to the day they left, not a single word had passed between them. Pei Chuan wanted to speak, but Gu Yun kept his gaze fixed out the window, silent and distant. A knot of fear tightened in Pei Chuan’s chest—what if, in the blink of an eye, Gu Yun just... stepped off the edge? Shamelessly, Pei Chuan moved into Gu Yun’s apartment. Even when Gu Yun told him to get out, he refused to leave. "Same-sex marriage is legal in Taiwan," Pei Chuan ventured one day, sitting across from Gu Yun. He carefully wiped Gu Yun’s fingers, the only part exposed beyond the cast, with a warm towel. "Let’s go register, okay?" Gu Yun remained numb, too drained to even curse at him. Pei Chuan knew how unforgivable his past actions had been. But now, he was terrified—terrified of losing Gu Yun forever. "Pei Chuan, you’re sick," Gu Yun finally said, his voice rough. "Probably infected by whatever disgusting virus I carry. But it’s not too late for you. Save yourself." Pei Chuan’s hands froze. He looked up, searching Gu Yun’s face. "I was wrong. You’re not sick. Neither am I. Please... don’t do this." Gu Yun met his gaze. "I can help you." Pei Chuan clenched his fists. "Gu Yun..." With great effort, Gu Yun stood, dragging his tablet over and placing it on the table. Outside the window, the sunset blazed in quiet beauty, the world serene and untouched. Yet Pei Chuan inexplicably felt his heart ache at the sight before him. The pain was sharp, almost unbearable. For a fleeting moment, it struck him that he and Gu Yun no longer belonged to the same world. It was as though if he reached out, Gu Yun would vanish into thin air. Gu Yun turned on his computer, his stiff fingers clumsily navigating through his private collection of adult films. "Disgusted?" he asked Pei Chuan. Straight men couldn’t stomach this kind of thing. One look, and they’d recoil in visceral revulsion. Pei Chuan frowned, then abruptly stood and slammed the laptop shut. Gu Yun let out a bitter laugh. "See? You can’t hide your true nature." Pei Chuan’s voice was hoarse. "Gu Yun, I’m not gay..." "I just happen to love you."