Urban Soldier Young Master

Chapter 884 - 883: To Stay or Not to Stay

The expression on Tong Yaqi's face left Chu Ge rather speechless, but he didn't bother to explain further. After all, facts speak louder than words, and he really didn't need to take this matter seriously.Chu Ge glanced in the direction of the recreation room, "President Tong, how about a game of billiards together?"

"Maybe another day. Unlike you, President Chu, I'm not as carefree and leisurely. There's a ton of things at the company that need my attention." Tong Yaqi shook her head, looking at Chu Ge with a mix of teasing and surprise, "Is there really nothing you need to instruct me on, President Chu?"

Chu Ge shrugged, "If I must say there's something, it would be to talk about the company's current situation, but it's not particularly urgent."

Hearing this, Tong Yaqi finally believed Chu Ge's words. He really was here to see her specifically. After all, if he wanted to know about the company's status, a phone call would have sufficed.

The two locked eyes, and Tong Yaqi hesitated for a moment before standing up from the sofa, "President Chu, if that's the case, I'll find time to call and report to you later. I'm really busy right now."

Chu Ge was momentarily stunned, not expecting such a response from Tong Yaqi. Then a faint, self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.

For a president, he was indeed a bit of a failure. It was one thing not to have a secretary or assistant, but to have even his subordinates show him such little respect when he wanted to talk? In another company, this would certainly be seen as unbelievable.

Of course, Chu Ge knew very well that Tianqing was Tianqing, not any other company, and his relationship with Tong Yaqi was not merely that of president and general manager.

But from the current situation, it seemed Tong Yaqi intended to clearly redefine their relationship...

Chu Ge had considered this possibility before, but Tong Yaqi's proactive attitude still made it hard for him to accept, leaving a bit of bitterness in his heart.

After all, he met Tong Yaqi not long after returning to Lidu, and they shared many wonderful memories together.

"President Chu, if there's nothing else, then... shall I leave?" While Chu Ge was sighing internally, Tong Yaqi's questioning voice rang in his ears again.

Facing Tong Yaqi's gaze, Chu Ge sighed silently, but outwardly, he smiled and nodded, "Since you're busy, let's talk another day."

Tong Yaqi turned and headed toward the door. Though she maintained a composed smile, inside, she wasn't feeling as composed.

When Chu Ge wasn't around, she missed him quite a bit. Seeing him now genuinely delighted her, yet Tong Yaqi was acutely aware of one thing: they were still separated by Qin Ruojing.

Chu Ge and Qin Ruojing had already obtained their marriage license and were soon to have their wedding. Continuing their previous relationship would simply be inappropriate.

Staring at the increasingly close door, rationally, Tong Yaqi felt she should just walk out, but emotionally, a voice kept echoing inside.

"Call me, stop me, is he really going to just let me leave like this? Can he really bear to?"

Meanwhile, Chu Ge was also struggling with the decision of whether to call out or not.

Just as Tong Yaqi was a step away from the door of the president's office, two voices resounded simultaneously in the air.

"Chu Ge."

"Yaqi."

Tong Yaqi turned around, and a sense of awkwardness filled the air, quickly followed by the sound of two voices in unison again.

"You speak first."

"You speak first."

Both froze, then laughed. Chu Ge leaned back in his chair, gesturing with a hand, "Ladies first. You go ahead."

Tong Yaqi brushed her forehead with her hand, smiling mischievously, "I was thinking, if I just left like this, wouldn't it be quite disrespectful to President Chu? Would President Chu hold a grudge and find an opportunity to make things difficult for me in the future?"

Chu Ge looked at Tong Yaqi amusedly, "Do I seem like that kind of person?"

Tong Yaqi nodded solemnly, "Quite a bit, so I think... if you insist on me staying to report on work, perhaps I can barely squeeze out a bit of time."

Chu Ge was both speechless and delighted. Tong Yaqi clearly wanted to stay herself but tossed the ball into his court. Yet, who could blame her? She was a woman, after all. A bit of coyness was naturally understandable.

"If time is particularly tight and difficult, then we can just forget about it."

Chu Ge echoed back with a similar playful tone. Tong Yaqi's expression faltered, and disappointment flashed in her eyes. However, just as she forced a smile and was about to leave the president's office, Chu Ge's voice reached her ears again.

"But... I heard a saying that time is like water in a sponge; you squeeze it, and there will always be more. Perhaps if you squeeze a bit more, time won't be as tight."

Tong Yaqi's mood instantly shifted from cloudy to clear, with a sense of amused exasperation. How could he be like this, not knowing when to give her some leeway? He clearly wanted her to stay, yet still played a game of tai chi with her.

Looking at Chu Ge's annoying face, Tong Yaqi finally gave in, feigning a helpless sigh, "Since you're being so sincere, I guess I'll reluctantly stay and report on my work with you."

Chu Ge smirked, walked into the game room, picked up a cue stick, and with a single shot broke the pool balls arranged in a triangle, turning to give Tong Yaqi, who followed him in, a bright smile, "Thanks for your cooperation."

"It's been a while since we played. I wonder if your skills have gotten rusty?"

Tong Yaqi also picked up a cue stick and stood beside the pool table.

"Whether or not they're rusty, you'll find out with a try," Chu Ge knocked the second ball into the corner pocket, a knowing smile on his face.

Tong Yaqi met Chu Ge's gaze, a mischievous and challenging look in her eyes, "If I didn't want to try, I wouldn't have come over with you. The question is, are you still willing to cooperate now?"

Chu Ge was about to strike the third ball when his grip faltered, and the cue ball weakly rolled a short distance before stopping, not even touching the target ball.

"Looks like President Chu's skills have indeed gotten rusty..."

Tong Yaqi gave a slightly complex smile, then shifted her gaze from Chu Ge's face, leaning over the pool table with her cue stick.

Her eyes focused intently on the cue ball, Tong Yaqi gripped the butt of the stick tightly with her right hand, moving it gently back and forth, and then swiftly thrust her forearm forward. With the impact at the tip of the cue stick, the cue ball shot out forcefully, hitting the target ball with a resounding "crack," as if venting something.

It was a long-distance power shot, and the target ball sped towards the corner pocket on the table. However, even though her shot was precisely angled, the target ball ricocheted violently at the pocket's edge, ultimately bouncing aside instead of sinking in.

"Seems like I've also lost my touch," Tong Yaqi spread out her hands, her smile filled with a hint of desolation and helplessness.

Before Tong Yaqi finished speaking, Chu Ge flashed her a confident smile.

If Chu Ge's earlier movements were somewhat casual, then now they became very precise. He took a small step forward with his left foot to his front left side, its width slightly less than his shoulder width, his right foot naturally rotating about 45 degrees outward, standing firm as a rock.

His right hand firmly held the cue stick, aiming at the cue ball. As he moved his right hand back and forth, the stick softly rubbed against his supporting left hand, making an almost inaudible sound.

Chu Ge's upper body leaned forward, slightly bent, very close, his head slightly raised, chin nearly grazing the cue stick as it moved back and forth, eyes calm yet steady, focused intently on the cue ball.

Then, his grip steadied suddenly, pushing the cue stick sharply forward, striking the lower right side of the cue ball.

With a sharp "crack," the slight angle on the shot not only spun a nearly rail-stuck target ball into the opposite corner pocket, but also separated two tightly clustered balls, producing a series of crisp sounds.

Chu Ge smirked, straightened up, and looked at Tong Yaqi, "It's too soon to say I've gotten rusty. That last shot was just a fluke."

With a cocky grin, Chu Ge wiped his cue chalk, then took another long-distance shot, sinking another target ball into the pocket. Eyeing another target ball, his mouth curled up slightly, "And remember, as long as you want to try, I'll be willing to play along."

Tong Yaqi hesitated for a moment, watched as Chu Ge steadily pocketed the target balls, his gaze shifting continually. When only the eight-ball was left, she walked over to Chu Ge, who was bent over the table, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"If you can make this shot, I think we can try something else."

Chu Ge took a breath, eyes on the white cue ball, aiming carefully, his wrist suddenly flicked.

With a "crack," the eight-ball fell right into the pocket.

Chu Ge straightened up, and their eyes met, "In."

"Click"

Chu Ge tossed the cue stick he'd been holding onto the pool table, both their gazes a bit intense.

...

"I'm kind of regretting it, what about you?"

Half an hour passed, and Tong Yaqi glanced at that sharply contoured profile, lazily smiling, though her eyes seemed a bit lost.

Chu Ge stared at the ceiling, "I don't know either, maybe a little, maybe not."

Tong Yaqi lightly flicked her fingers on Chu Ge's forehead, "Regret is regret, not regret is not regret, what kind of answer is that?"

"How to put it..." Chu Ge gently held the hand she had placed on his forehead, after a few seconds he shook his head slightly, "I really can't say."

"Why don't you think about it more? I really want to know what you're thinking about us."

Chu Ge turned his head to look at Tong Yaqi, "How about you?"