Wu Fan leaned back on the high back rest of his chair, heaving out deep breaths every now and then. He was nervous. No, nervous doesn’t even describe what he was feeling right now. For a minute, he feels like he wants to throw up. The next thing, he wants to scream so he’d stop feeling so scared.

Managing a company wasn’t that easy, Wu Fan realized that the moment he chose this path instead of doing what he wanted. He would comfort himself with the advantages of being able to run a company, like how the employees call him President Kris and respect him. But he never really wanted to look or act scary in front of them. He couldn’t help it. If he wanted to impress his father, it was the only way.

He studied the concrete ceiling, grasping the machete of his chairs firmly. He wanted to be composed, acting like he doesn’t even care. He wanted to put on a cold, blank expression like his father usually does to scare the employees. Wu Fan used to be a cheerful lad, lenient and pleasant. But because of his father’s overwhelming influence, he had to change.

The expression is a mask, his father would tell him. If you let your guard down and put on your natural self, they would take you for granted. They would think you’d accept anything they’ll throw at you and even forget about the respect. So put the mask on. Prove to them that you’re more superior.

It has been six years since Wu Fan had took over this company. The first few years, he had worked diligently and treated his employees as his family, never forgetting who he was. He didn’t let the pressure of his father incapacitate him. The first few years of his life were blissful.

Until their company was at the brink of insolvency. His father blamed him, accused him of destroying a company he and his forefathers had built and worked on for years. His father imputed Wu Fan’s phlegmatic personality towards work. Wu Fan knew he had to change if he wanted to win his father’s trust again.

And the next day, he was as cold as the South Pole. The friends in the company that he used to be with had drifted away from him. Those employees he treated as his family… it was all gone. What can he do? He needed to sacrifice, even if it means losing a lot.

Oh, how he misses them. How he misses those afternoons spent at the coffee area, where he and his employees would make time to share about their daily routines. How he misses those late nights when they would go home together, making sure that they got home safely. How he misses the family that used to feel like he was home.

He shook his head, discarding unnecessary thoughts. Mentally, he started jotting down things he had done over the past three weeks his father was gone. His father will be coming in the next two weeks for company inspection and he will be expecting reports—excellent reports, to be specific. Wu Fan knew how his father wanted to hear that they were growing and increasing money.

Abruptly, he held the phone on his hand and dialed his secretary’s number.

“Yes, si—”

“Have my car ready,” he cuts off, never letting his secretary finish whatever she’s saying.

“But sir—”

He hung up, not wanting to waste any more time. He wanted to unwind. He wanted to… get out of this four-walled office that feels like a prison instead of a typical workplace. Grabbing his suit, he aimed for the door.

As soon as his secretary spotted him, she stood up, shaken and trembling in fear. Perhaps, Wu Fan had put on his ‘superior mask’. He didn’t care. He had to look scary and superior anyway. On his way out, he couldn’t help but overhear few of his employees asking what his problem was or why he was getting moody again.

Even Lu Han, a member of the board of directors, couldn’t help but ask him where he’s going. When Kris told him he wanted to go out, Lu Han just chuckled, patting his shoulder as if he was happy for his decision.

“That’s good,” Lu Han commented, placing his hands in his pocket. “You deserve it anyway. You’ve been locked up in that office for days now. I think it’s time for you to go out, too. Tell you what, I know about this awesome underground club”—Lu Hand slipped a card in Wu Fan’s hand—“and you won’t regret going there.”

Wu Fan chuckled in disbelief. “But I thought you’re married.”

Lu Han shrugged nonchalantly, turning around so his back would be on Wu Fan. “I am married,” he echoed. “But I didn’t say anything about cheating behind Yoona’s back. I love her and I have never cheated on her. I’m just saying the club is awesome, especially their drinks. Got to give them the credit though. They have y dancers, maybe it’s something you need. Even Sehun goes there. He brings Krystal along, too.”

Wu Fan chuckled in amusement. “Of course.” He held the card up. “Thanks. I’ll consider the offer.”

Angry Avenue. Even the name sounds nifty. Wu Fan shook his head, laughing quietly to himself. He wondered how Lu Han and Sehun had discovered this place. Even if his employees had turned back from him, at least he had those guys who constantly remind him about what’s left of his life.

When the elevator doors opened, he came out swiftly and gracefully. Other bystanders who were with him in the elevator were left speechless at how striking he was. Another thing that Wu Fan hated the most was the fact that most people seem to notice him because of his looks.

His employees, even the guards, bow to him in respect when he’s around.

He ignored the looks from the people around him. The only thing he wanted was to get out of their sight as fast as he could so he won’t feel so… lonely. Even if in the sea of people who considers him as authority, he still feels alone.

He halted into a stop when he almost bumped into a woman. However, to his sheer dismay, the woman hasn’t notice him. She ran straight into him, spilling the coffee on his shirt. The woman let out a surprised screech, scrambling as she tried to find a tissue to wipe it away. Looking up, she realized it wasn’t particularly anyone, but the President Kris.

“Oh, my god! I’m so sorry, President Kris!” the woman stammered, getting flustered as she tries to search for any tissues available. The people around them had stopped to look, whispering amongst them on how unlucky the woman was.

Wu Fan hated situations like this. “Stop,” he said faintly, not making a move.

The woman didn’t hear him. Instead, she continued wiping his shirt with her hands.

“I said stop,” Wu Fan repeated sternly. “You think you can just get the stain off my shirt with your hands? In the modern world, you’re going to have to take my shirt and wash the stain away. But in my world? You’re replacing this. You understand?”

The woman nodded hysterically. “I’m so sorry, sajangnim. I really didn’t mean to do it. I wasn’t… I wasn’t watching. I promise… I’ll get it replaced as soon as I could.”

Wu Fan chortled at the word promise. Promises were always broken. “You think you could replace this in a day?” he snapped, loosening his tie. “This shirt is very expensive and I got this from Italy. In fact, I had to be put on waiting list just to obtain this shirt. It’s that exclusive. You think you can get it right away?”

The woman gulped nervously, not daring to meet his cold gaze. “I… I’m s-s-so sorry…”

“You think sorry works?” Wu Fan retorted, scoffing. “If sorry works, what do we need the police for? And don’t think you can get away with this, Kim Taeyeon-ssi. I know you. You’re from the Strategic Design Department, right?”

♣ rackcity —

ohohoh, chapter two is out. meet kris! and instead of wu yi fan, i just made it wu fan.

comments would be very much appreciated and would be so much loved.

and i am a big LuYoon & SeStal shipper so I kind of mentioned Yoona & Krystal.

i love you if you subscribe and comment. it would make me so happy c;