Charmed by you

The first time he met his boss, the young man timidly walked into the spacious office as Jiang Wei tried on a new suit. Although Ling really wanted the job, he cared about his potential boss.

He had heard of his coldness and arrogance beforehand, but he didn't consider it a character flaw. "Who's going to blame the bear if his fur is stiff and his smile makes the blood run cold in his veins?" Ling decided to evaluate his boss objectively. He froze near the door. Jiang Wei looked at himself in the mirror, then suddenly turned and walked over to the young man.

"Look here," he showed him a row of buttons on his sleeve, "can you see they're sewn crooked, too?"

Ling tried not to laugh. He coughed and looked closely at the track of five buttons. What a bizarre design this suit had. But the buttons were really out of alignment, someone had messed up. Without waiting for Ling's Ling's reply, Jiang Wei took off the jacket and showed him the lining.

"And this one is a nightmare altogether," he poked the skewed fabric in his face and demanded to share his indignation.

"Yes," Ling tilted his head respectfully.

Wei furiously crumpled up his jacket and tossed it to Ling. Then he loosened his tie and collapsed on the couch. One could see that the boss was in a bad mood. Ling took a couple of steps to the side and poured a glass of water.

Then he just walked over and handed it to the director. Surprisingly, Jiang Wei accepted the water and even drank it. He twirled the glass thoughtfully in his hand, watching the sun's rays reflect off its surface. Then he jumped up and, walking out of his office, said Ling:

"Tell the front desk to cancel my appointment and follow me."

Ling obediently complied and went downstairs with the director. There they got into the corporate car and Jiang Wei handed him his former secretary's phone.

"Contact Xu Ming and tell him to expect me in twenty minutes."

Ling again obeyed Wei's request and was surprised at how nervous the man on the other end of the phone became. All the while, Jiang Wei was working on his laptop and paying no attention to the young man. Soon they stopped outside the large family-owned Atelier "Xu Linge". Wei flew into the room, creating a destructive vortex around him. Ling ran after.

"Xu, give me what you've got. Those cretins sent me a defective suit, the assistant saw," Jiang Wei waved his hand at Ling.

From that moment on, Ling knew that the boss had accepted him. While the fitting was going on, there was a knock in the room: a girl brought fragrant tea.

Ling accepted it and thanked him. He carefully handed his boss the cup and he accepted it quite calmly, and then returned it when he finished it. Ling tasted the tea too, it was incredibly delicious and... expensive.

The young man felt keen that everything in this atelier was very, very expensive. Therefore, with reverent reverence, he stood still. After trying it on, Jiang Wei was reassured: Xu Ming had found the perfect suit for him. Ling chuckled in his heart, not understanding how the boss could make a scene over such nonsense.

As if hearing his thoughts, Jiang Wei said aloud:

"The first impression is very important, just like all subsequent impressions. But you can only make the first one once, right, Mr. Xu?"

"That's right, that's right," the tailor acquiesced, smoothing out his jacket.

They left the atelier and got into the car again.

"I want to see Li Guang tomorrow. Book us a table on the west side of town, I want to sit on the terrace and watch the sunset."

The hairs on Ling's head stirred. He frantically remembered which restaurants he knew in the west end and even those with terraces. Fortunately, this time he had an answer. A couple of months ago he had organized a conference and then a party on the roof of an expensive restaurant. It would probably fit the boss's requirements.

Ling called his acquaintance, who worked as the head receptionist, and asked for a favor. The girl bailed Ling out, and he made a note to himself to thank her. +

After that he ran to get coffee and to the drugstore, answering the endless questions about what flavor is better, Western or Chinese food, wine or champagne... The boss dragged him to the stores and together with him choosing a gift for the unknown Li Guang.

When the young man returned to his apartment, all he had to do was collapse on his bed. "I wonder if every day will be like this now?"

A name badge and full access to Jiang Wei's business awaited him in the morning. They were rushing through meetings, and Ling was memorizing dozens of names as he went. He was knocked off his feet, but he never complained. The boss looked right through him, but he also relied more and more on his new assistant.

Within a month Ling was already arranging secret meetings between the director and Li Guang through the butler and then driving them drunk to their homes. Ling had been to the boss's house many times, personally hired a housekeeper for him, and gave her orders. The young man did his best to keep his boss happy.

He made sure nothing ticked or dripped in the house after he suspected something was wrong. The boss came to work annoyed and once complained that the house was noisy.

Ling spent half a day climbing around the house with a noise meter. So the creaking door, the gurgling toilet cistern, and the exhaust fan noise were eliminated, the refrigerator was replaced, and all the clocks in the house became electronic.

Of course, the boss didn't say thank you to Ling, but his rested and calm face was much better than thanks. Ling cared for him like a child. But the director, no way he would have known that.

So Jiang Wei got a massage chair, and the table changed in height. By nature, tall Jiang Wei always sat slouching, so after measuring the height of the table, Ling ordered another one, following ergonomic recommendations.

Besides, the boss would get a hot lunch straight to the office if he didn't have any meetings.

He took everything for granted out of habit, just sat down and ate.

When he was sick, which happened all of a sudden, Ling would spend the night at his house and could endure his moods and give him medicine all night.

The only person Ling hated was Li Guang.

Although his boss liked him and made plans aloud for their future together under alcohol, this Li Guang disgusted the young man. Ling had disliked snakes and dangerous insects since childhood.

He had a similar feeling for young Master Li. He smiled sweetly and coiled around Jiang Wei, pretending to be soft oil or incense smoke, but Ling did not believe him and always thought he was a poisonous scorpion.

When Li Guang announced his engagement to that rich heiress, everyone was shocked. But not as much as Jiang Wei. Ling had to call a personal physician because the boss hadn't eaten in six days and passed out right at the directors' meeting.

While Li Guang posed in public next to his fiancée, Ling slept at the boss's bedside for fear that he would do something rashly stupid when he regained consciousness. But this did not happen.

After suffering, Jiang Wei withdrew into himself and became a dark and cold metal. Even his voice changed. This change frightened Ling, not to mention everyone else in the firm.

During that dark time, his boss fired people left and right, tossed documents, and behaved inadequately. But even that passed. He became quiet and thoughtful. It took him a month to realize that Li Guang was a lying, disgusting brute.

Then there was no one around him but Ling, but the headmaster still addressed him arrogantly. The year came to an end and Ling was happy to see a positive balance in his account. The deed was done; he was a free man, with no more debt.

The young man froze for a moment and looked at his picture. His eyes were a little blurry. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, then looked away and was surprised to find his surroundings full of people.

Many, like him, were drawing from life, but some painted from their heads. Ling blinked and wiggled his head for a while longer, then returned to his portrait. He was already feeling tired and hungry, but the painting was almost done, so he wiped the back of his palm with sweat and continued.

All this time, Jiang Wei sat quietly in his chair. He was watching Ling's work, and he felt warm and pleased to see the young man watching him intently. At some point, the same round-faced Academy headmaster appeared behind Ling.

He watched the young man thoughtfully and impassively and said nothing. After standing for a few more minutes, he turned his gaze to Jiang Wei and there was a glint in his eyes. Wei understood and nodded to the man. Gradually, the hall became stuffy and crowded. But Ling continued to create.

"How long does it even take to finish a portrait like this?" thought Wei.

The lights came on; about a fifth of those present remained. It got easier to breathe, but it seemed as if Ling would never stop. Suddenly he frowned, clicked his tongue, and set the brush aside.

"Done," he said in a slightly distant voice. Wei exhaled and slid down in his chair to a reclining position. He was tired of sitting motionless.

"Do you want to see?" asked Ling uncertainly.

"Sure!" jumped up Wei.

He walked quickly around the easel and stopped in front of the portrait. Unreadable emotions ran across his face. As he studied his image for a long time, he was impressed. It was a good portrait.

The man in it looked strong and deep in thought. His face radiated a little, just a little, radiance. How could Ling have painted him like that?

Not knowing how to express his delight, Wei put his hands on Ling's shoulders and squeezed them. When Ling turned his head toward him, he was taken captive by a gentle kiss.

The young man shuddered with fright and slight shame. There were people around, after all, but they were both hidden behind the portrait. That long-awaited kiss made the young man's cheeks turn pink.

Wei broke away from him as the headmaster of the Academy approached them. He said hello, complimented the work and the artist, and offered to leave the painting for a couple of days to dry completely. After writing them a receipt, the man left, glancing back at Ling a couple of times.

The young man stood up but staggered a little. His legs could hardly hold him, so he had to lean on Wei, and together they went out into the fresh air. It was half past eight on the clock, stomachs rumbling treacherously, and the men went out to dinner.

This time they ordered Italian pasta and a glass of wine. After dulling their sense of hunger, they went to wander the city. Here and there, shop windows sparkled and music played, but Ling felt very tired and Wei took him home at once.

When the young man came out of the shower, he saw a parchment-wrapped canvas on the bed. He excitedly touched the expensive paper and looked questioningly at Wei.

"Bought it as a souvenir, see if you like it," Wei said carelessly.