Chapter Text
Chen Pin Ming looked at the piece of paper in his hand then up at the lit sign of the stylish bar: After Hours. It looked expensive, but it was set outside of the high end district of Jianghu, so he was hopeful a drink wouldn’t eat most of his paycheck.
The note he held had the name and address of the place, along with one single note: Friday, 7pm. It had been easier to find than he’d expected, though if Pin Ming were being honest, he may have partially hoped that he couldn’t find it.
He did find it though, and he wasn’t going to leave without seeing if the one who gave him the note was actually here.
With a deep breath, Pin Ming walked through the doors. Several faint odors greeted him, none of them unpleasant, but the mix was unfamiliar. He hadn’t been in a bar in years, not since college, and he’d forgotten the scent of people drinking together. Pin Ming was generally happy being a beta, and now he was especially glad he wouldn’t suffer any severe attacks from a mix of alpha pheromones.
The bar was dimly lit and soft jazz played through hidden ceiling speakers. There was a low murmur of conversation, but it was quiet for a bar and allowed for comfortable conversation. For there being so many scents, there weren’t that many people there.
The bar was larger than it looked from the outside, but it was nice. Pin Ming remembered feeling uncomfortable at nightspots, but this one was non-threatening.
He checked his watch to see it was about 5 minutes past 7, and he looked around the bar for the face that was familiar in his work life.
The day Chang Yu slipped Pin Ming the paper with the address of the bar on it had been stressful and hectic. Pin Ming’s boss was having a very intense and strange rut, but because he was stubborn, he’d refused to stay in, choosing instead to attend a public and important function. While Pin Ming understood why he wanted to attend, he wished Mr. Sheng would actually listen to him once in awhile.
The day ended with Mr. Sheng being insulted, Pin Ming feeling embarrassed for his boss (and himself), and the person they were there to meet in the first place having never showed up. By the time they left, Pin Ming just wanted to get Mr. Sheng home where his current omega could take care of him while Pin Ming went home to have a shower and a drink.
Because of the angry way Chang Yu had spoke to Mr. Sheng that day, Pin Ming would never have expected the man to approach him while he was waiting for Mr. Sheng’s driver to arrive and slip a piece of paper into his hand.
“Apologies for today,” the man had said in a low voice, his serious expression never changing. Then he was gone, leaving Pin Ming to stare after him before looking at the note he’d been given. A place, an address, a day, and a time.
Pin MIng quickly put the note in his pocket, not wanting Mr. Sheng to see. Not that he was trying to lie to his boss, but questions would be asked, and Pin Ming had no idea how to answer them when he wasn’t even sure why he’d been given the note in the first place.
For the next few days, Pin Ming carried it around, wondering if he should throw it away and ignore it or see what it was about. He did a web search, so he knew it referenced a bar, but unless he actually went, he’d never know what Secretary Chang was up to.
If anything, maybe he could get some sort of information on Chang Yu’s boss for Mr. Sheng, since that was who he’d been trying to meet with. At the very least, having a drink with someone else in the industry might be a novelty he had yet to experience in all his years of working as Sheng Shaoyou’s secretary.
Finally, in the dim light, his eyes fell on Secretary Chang sitting at the bar, a glass of light brown liquid in his hands. He still wore his work suit, though Pin Ming could see that he’d loosened his tie. As he walked towards the bar, Pin Ming did the same.
“Secretary Chang?” he said cautiously as he approached.. Chang Yu turned his head, his eyes meeting Pin Ming’s, and he smiled welcomingly. Pin Ming was surprised at how friendly he looked with a smile. Nothing like the serious man who was always showing up places in lieu of his reclusive boss.
“Secretary Chen,” Chang Yu greeted, pulling the chair next to him out to indicate that Pin Ming should sit down. “You found the place.”
“It wasn’t too difficult,” Pin Ming said, taking the seat. Though he didn’t feel anxious by his surroundings, Chang Yu made him a bit nervous, partially because of who he worked for, but also because he was a higher level Alpha and well known as one of the most competent secretaries in business circles. Pin Ming wasn’t one to be intimidated, but Chang Yu was clearly above him in many ways. .
“What would you like to drink?” Chang Yu asked. “First round is on me.”
“How many rounds do you usually have?” Feeling warm, Pin Ming removed his jacket and hung it over the back of his chair.
Chang Yu shrugged. “Depends on the week I’ve had. Tonight feels like at least a three-round night.” He smiled and shrugged. “But we’ll see what happens.”
Pin Ming nodded. “I don’t drink much. I’ll just have what you’re having.”
Chang Yu motioned to the bartender, tipping his glass to indicate what he wanted. “Two more.” The bartender nodded and set to filling two glasses, giving Pin Ming a chance to look around the bar a bit more. The shelves were well stocked with quality liquor. Mr. Sheng would probably like his place, but Pin Ming wasn’t going to tell him about it. His boss wasn’t feeling much like recreational drinking these days anyway.
The bartender handed them the drinks, and Chang Yu raised his to toast with Pin Ming. Pin Ming returned the gesture, clinking his glass with Secretary Chang’s before sipping the warm, slightly sweet liquid. It burned as it went down, but Pin Ming immediately relaxed as the warmth spread through his chest and stomach. Normally if he drank, he drank wine, but this was a pleasant change.
“Secretary Chang,” Pin Ming finally said, “why did you invite me here?”
“First, how about we drop the formalities for tonight? If you’re not comfortable calling me by name, Mr. Chang is fine.”
Pin Ming swallowed. “Okay, Mr. Chang. I hope you’ll do the same.”
“I plan to, Chen Pin Ming.” Chang Yu glanced at him as if to gauge his reaction to having his name used casually, but Pin Ming really didn’t mind. In fact, it sounded kind of nice when Mr. Chang said it. “As for the invite, I figured you might want to let off some steam after working for Sheng Shaoyou. Am I right?”
Pin Ming was cautious about what he said out loud, as if saying anything negative about his boss would come back to haunt him. “Mr. Sheng isn’t all that bad,” he said. “Some days are stressful, but it can be rewarding too.”
Chang Yu chuckled. “This isn’t a job interview. You really don’t have to sugarcoat it.”
“I’m not. It really isn’t that bad.”
“So working for an S-Class Alpha with high demands who runs a multi-billion dollar company doesn’t cause you any stress?”
“Well,” Pin Ming tried to find the right words. “It does, but-”
“Pin Ming, I didn’t invite you here to be polite. If you really don’t want to complain, then just drink and enjoy the atmosphere.”
Pin Ming felt like he’d done something wrong.
“Mr. Chang, did I upset you?”
“Not really. I was just hoping you’d feel comfortable enough to not put on a fake front. Then again, we don’t really know each other that well, so I can’t really blame you.”
Pin Ming stared at Chang Yu as the other man looked down at his drink. “I’m not entirely sure what you want me to say or why you want me to say it,” he said, honestly. “If our bosses weren’t in the same sector, it would be easier. But if I say the wrong thing…”
“It’s okay, I understand.” Chang Yu drained his glass, and for a second, Pin Ming thought he was going to leave. Instead, he motioned to the bartender for another drink. “Would it help if I started? If I said how I feel about my boss right now?”
“If you need to get something off your chest and you’re comfortable doing so, then I don’t mind listening.” As an afterthought, he added, “Whatever you say will stay with me. I won’t say anything to Mr. Sheng.”
For some reason, that made Chang Yu laugh. “You know, even if you did, it really wouldn’t matter.”
Pin Ming assumed Chang Yu was insinuating that Mr. Sheng was insignificant to both him and his boss at X Holdings. Though it might have made Pin Ming feel protective, instead it eased his mind. If he and Sheng Shaoyou were that unimportant, maybe it wouldn’t matter what Pin Ming said.
“Then feel free to talk to me,” he said.
Chang Yu didn’t say anything for a few long moments, and Pin Ming wondered if he’d changed his mind. Finally though, Chang Yu shifted so that he was facing Pin Ming, one elbow laying casually on the bar.
“Do you know how hard it is dealing with an absolute maniac every single day?”
Pin Ming was surprised. “Is your boss that bad?”
“Yes. And no. But he’s driving me nuts right now.”
“What’s he doing? Is he just demanding?”
“He’s demanding. He’s selfish. He doesn’t care what anyone around him thinks or who he hurts. He has a one-track mind and sees nothing except…getting what he wants.”
Pin Ming hadn’t expected Chang Yu to get so animated. Every time he’d encountered him at a meeting or function, he’d always spoke highly of the man he was representing, even seeming to admire him. “I’m surprised. I mean, Mr. Sheng can be frustrating too, but I always assumed you had a good relationship with your boss. You always seem to speak very well of him.”
“Because he’s actually brilliant,” Chang Yu said. “He’s the smartest man I know, he’s just…a little sociopathic.”
“Are you in danger?” Pin Ming asked, which made Chang Yu laugh.
“No, I’m not in danger. We have a mutual trust, and I do admire him. That doesn’t mean I can’t be pissed off at him sometimes, does it?”
“Well….no,” Pin Ming agreed. “I admire Mr. Sheng, but he drives me nuts a lot of the time.”
“Does he refuse to listen to you?”
“Most of the time. He thinks he knows best and gets mad when I suggest he take better care of himself.”
Chang Yu raised his glass and knocked it against Pin Ming’s. “They act like we don’t know what we’re talking about, like we don’t see them every day, up close and personal.”
“Exactly.” Pin Ming suddenly had the urge to spill every frustration he’d been having with Sheng Shaoyou. He didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the fact that Chang Yu was so honest, but he found himself relaxing and talking more than he’d planned to. “Like the other day. I told him to stay home. I told him that he had no business going out when he was having such a strong rut period. But he wouldn’t listen!”
Chang Yu shook his head. “They never listen. I’ve had to warn mine a few times to take better care of how he handles his, but no one can tell him anything. Do you know how many times I’ve had to help him out of a situation because he won’t be more cautious?”
“It’s infuriating,” Pin Ming agreed. “You must work for a high-level alpha too. Is he an S-Class like Mr. Sheng?”
Chang Yu paused a second, as if he had to think about it. “Well, he’s definitely not an omega.”
Pin Ming laughed. “I don’t know if any omega could ever be that stubborn. Alphas are the worst.” The minute the words were out, Pin Ming slammed his hand over his mouth. “I mean, not all alphas. Not you, Mr. Chang. I didn’t mean you.”
Chang Yu just laughed and put his hand on Pin Ming’s knee. “No, you're right, Pin Ming. Alphas are pains in the asses. I’m probably not an exception.”
Pin Ming suddenly realized that Chang Yu was a bit drunk. His face was flushed, but instead of making him look messy, it made him look more handsome. Pin Ming liked the way he laughed, and even though he wasn’t sensitive to pheromones, he found he enjoyed the scent emanating from Chang Yu.
He also liked the way this particular alpha’s hand felt on his knee.
Maybe I’m also a little drunk, thought Pin Ming, his face feeling flushed.
“I don’t think you’re a pain in the ass, Mr. Chang. I think you’re very good at your job and a nice person.”
Chang Yu leaned forward, his eyes unfocused and his lids lowered as he looked directly at Pin Ming. “I’m not a nice person though. I do a lot of really shady things for my boss.”
“But isn’t that part of your job?”
Pin Ming thought he felt Chang Yu squeeze his knee slightly, and for a second he thought the man was going to kiss him with the way he was leaning towards him, his eyes roaming over Pin Ming’s face.
“It is part of my job,” Chang Yu admitted. “But I’m hoping that once my boss’ current…project…is finished, I won’t have to be like this anymore.” He seemed to realize how close he was to Pin Ming and pulled away, leaving Pin Ming feeling a little disappointed. “Do you want another drink?”
“Um, maybe? This one feels like it’s hitting harder than I expected.”
Chang Yu ordered two more drinks, one for each of them. Pin Ming didn’t argue. One more drink wouldn’t hurt. He liked feeling relaxed and letting his guard down for once. Chang Yu had used the term “Letting off steam,” and that’s exactly what it felt like.
They continued to talk and drink, ignoring that they were getting more inebriated while throwing caution that anything they might say would get back to their bosses. Pin Ming would later worry that the alcohol made him brave, but he felt like he could tell Chang Yu anything and his secrets would be kept. Pin Ming felt like he actually had someone who knew how he felt.
They both finally realized it was probably time to call it a night when the bartender started dimming the lights and the other patrons trickled out.
“It’s really late,” Chang Yu said, looking at his watch. “I suppose we should go home.”
Pin Ming was still able to sit upright, but he was definitely drunk, even though he was sure he hadn’t had as much to drink as Chang Yu, who didn’t seem nearly as drunk. “I don’t think I’ve ever stayed out this late,” Pin Ming said.
“Never?”
Pin Ming shook his head. “I didn’t have many friends in college, and after I graduated I started working for ShengFang. That’s all I do really. Work and go home.”
Chang Yu reached up and brushed the hair off Pin Ming’s forehead. Pin Ming swallowed, reacting again to Chang Yu’s scent like he was an omega about to go into heat. “Now you’ll have to join me here more often,” Chang Yu said, smiling.
“Can I?” Pin Ming asked.
“I hope you do,” Yu said sincerely. “I’m here every Friday, and if you wanted to join me every Friday, I would be very happy.”
Pin Ming’s heart skipped a beat. “I’ll do my best then.” He stood up from the barstool, stumbling when his feet hit the floor. Before he could grab onto the bar chair for balance, Chang Yu had wrapped his arms around him to hold him in place.
Pin Ming put his hands on the alpha’s shoulders and pressed against him, unable to resist leaning in and inhaling the scent coming off his neck.
“Let me help you outside to get a cab,” Chang Yu said gently. “Are you going to be okay to go home by yourself?”
Pin Ming looked up at him, glassy eyed. “If I’m not, are you going to help me get there?”
Chang Yu smiled. “If you ask me to, I will.”
His heart skipped again, and drunk or not, Pin Ming realized he was dangerously close to doing just that. “I think I’ll be okay. But thank you for the offer.”
“Maybe next time then.”
Pin Ming didn’t know how to respond, but he didn’t have much time to think before Chang Yu was leading him out into the night air.
It was cool and breezy and gave Pin Ming a chance to clear his alcohol muddled mind before his ride showed up. He inhaled, still smelling Chang Yu, but his scent was now mixed with the smell of incoming rain. There would likely be a storm overnight.
“Can I have your number?” Chang Yu asked.
“My number? For work?”
“Not for work. Just because I might want to text you.”
Pin Ming blushed, but unlocked his phone to exchange numbers. “Sure. You can text me anytime. My phone isn’t a company phone, it’s mine, so text whatever you want.”
“Whatever I want?”
“Within reason.” Pin Ming blamed his own drunken state for the fact that everything Chang Yu said sounded suggestive.
“I’ll remember that.”
The rideshare pulled up a few minutes later and Chang Yu helped Pin Ming into the backseat and gave the driver his address.
How does he know my address? Pin Ming thought but figured he may have given it to him before he called the ride for him.
“I’ll buy the next round,” Pin Ming said, smiling.
“I’ll look forward to it,” Chang Yu said. He touched Pin Ming’s cheek gently and so fleetingly that Pin Ming thought he imagined it. “Good night, Mr. Chen.”
“Keep calling me ‘Pin Ming’. I like it.”
“Good night, Pin Ming.” He shut the door, leaving Pin Ming alone in the back of the rideshare as the car pulled away to take him back to his apartment.
He leaned his head against the window and smiled, realizing that he was looking forward to seeing Chang Yu again, and it didn’t matter if it was at work or at After Hours. He just wanted to see his face again soon.