Drunken Mistake

DM 43

Xue Yang paced outside the glass doors of Wei Software, thumbs running circles over the phone screen, occasionally lighting it up as if waiting for a message. The tension was etched into the lines of his face, a tightness around his jaw. Inside, Wei Wuxian was already calling the shots, taking back control of the empire he'd left hanging for almost two weeks.

Wei Wuxian's entrance cut through the murmuring crowd like a hot knife. His eyes held a detached calm, yet his gaze was razor-sharp, surveying the familiar space that had somehow grown foreign in his absence. The employees whispered among themselves, exchanging worried glances as he moved toward the small group gathered by his office.

"President Wei, it's good to have you back," greeted Luo Yangyang with a too-bright smile, her voice trying to lighten the mood. "We were beginning to wonder if you'd gone on some extended honeymoon with Hanguang-jun—until he started calling all of us, looking for you," she added with a chuckle, though her eyes betrayed her worry.

Wei Wuxian's face remained impassive. "He has someone else now," he said quietly. "He and I... are history."

An awkward silence followed, broken only by Xue Yang, who tossed a sympathetic glance at his friend, a thin smirk softening his face. "I wouldn't be too sure. My best friend's an idiot, but I still haven't given up on him."

But before any more could be said, a voice cut through the crowd like a knife. "Mr. Xue, may I ask what you're doing in Wei Software?" Xiao Xingchen, usually reserved and courteous, now stood, arms crossed, his face set in stern disapproval.

"He's joining as our new CEO," Wei Wuxian interjected firmly, stepping forward to match Xiao Xingchen's challenging gaze. "I respect Jiang's foundation, but Xue Yang's experience at Y-Tech brings a level of strategy and vision we're lacking. It was time for a change."

A shocked murmur rippled through the room. Xiao Xingchen's expression hardened. "President Wei, it's reckless to bring him here," he said, his voice resolute, almost icy. "The reputation of Wei Software will be jeopardized with his name on the masthead."

Xue Yang's smirk faltered. Wei Wuxian noted the split-second flicker of pain in Xue Yang's gaze, quickly masked by the usual bravado. "I suggested that to A'Xian as well," Xue Yang quipped, a forced grin barely disguising the bitterness in his voice. "But he can be as stubborn as his... husband."

Wei Wuxian's eyes narrowed, catching the subtle strain in Xue Yang's tone, the unspoken ache beneath the surface. But it was Xiao Xingchen's retort that forced him back to the matter at hand. "President Wei," Xiao Xingchen continued, voice cold as steel, "I've invested years of hard work into Wei Software. I cannot watch it crumble under the influence of someone with such... questionable ethics."

A hush fell over the crowd. Wei Wuxian's jaw clenched. "You're fired," he said, voice as sharp as glass shattering in a dead room. Xiao Xingchen's mouth opened, disbelief flashing across his face as the weight of the words sank in. Around him, the employees exchanged looks of disbelief, alarm evident in their eyes.

"This company is my creation," Wei Wuxian announced, his voice slicing through the silence. "Xue Yang is my friend. He may be CEO, but that's only because he deserves it. If anyone here has a problem with that, feel free to follow Xiao Xingchen out that door."

A collective gasp rippled through the room, yet no one moved. Wei Wuxian's voice softened, but the steel remained. "Here, we judge people by what they do today, not by their past mistakes." He paused, letting his words sink in. "Mr. Xiao, relay all your current tasks to Luo Yangyang before you leave. She'll be taking over as head of the Beijing branch."

The crowd was still digesting the gravity of the scene when Wei Wuxian delivered the final punch. "I'll be basing myself in Suzhou. Those who want to join me will be set up there. The rest... you're welcome to stay here."