"Mr. Lu, take a look at the precision of this part. Can it meet your customer's requirements?" The worker took out the newly made piece from the lathe and showed it to Stephen. He waited for a while, but there was no response. The worker raised his voice, "Mr. Lu..."

Stephen snapped out of his thoughts and uttered a brief "Wait a moment" before leaving.

However, he didn't go far. He headed to the neighboring boring department.

"The boring process is used for drilling holes in large parts. I guess you can understand it that way, little boss." The man placed his hand on Joshua's shoulder. He was the team leader of the boring department.

Joshua visibly tensed and tried to move aside, but the man's arm followed him, forcibly pulling him back and leading him to the large piece on the boring machine. "Let me show you. Help me hold the ruler and find the cutting point."

"Oops, the ruler is crooked." He held Joshua's hand, straightened the ruler, and fixed the workpiece on the boring machine. Then he held onto him and brought him back to the workstation. "I just explained the workstation to you. Summarize it for me to see if you remembered."

The weather was hot, and there was no air conditioning in the workshop. The sound of the big fan spinning mixed with the noises of various processing equipment, making it headache-inducing. What made Joshua even more uncomfortable was the man's sweaty and smelly body and the garlic odor when he came closer.

Sweat trickled down his temples, and he just wanted to familiarize himself with the details of this workshop quickly and leave. He stumbled through a recap of the functions of the buttons on the workstation, making several mistakes that the man corrected.

"Not bad, you educated folks pick this up pretty quickly. Now let me teach you how to operate it." As he spoke, the man smacked Joshua's buttocks and gave him a suggestive look.

Joshua's face immediately flushed red, and his brain rushed with blood as a strong sense of disgust surged to its peak.

The man was getting too close, and he wanted to run, but his legs wouldn't move. He felt like he was standing in a muddy swamp, unable to break free. Then he saw that repulsive hand rise again, seemingly wanting to touch his face. With a heightened sense of caution, Joshua dodged, but the man didn't give up, raising his hand again, saying, "Come here..."

"Bob, hold on." Stephen, who appeared suddenly, grabbed the man's wrist, staring at him sternly. "The batch of parts that the customer returned yesterday was found to be a problem in your department. Go to the warehouse and pick them up."

Bob, not tall but sturdy, emitted a menacing aura as he glared at Stephen.

Stephen didn't back down. "This is the second time this month. The customer was lenient and didn't ask for compensation. Otherwise, your department would have been fined. If you want to continue working here, put away your dirty thoughts and focus on your job."

His voice was loud enough for everyone in the workshop to crane their necks and observe the commotion.

Bob's face turned purple, and his teeth grinded together. Beside him, Joshua started to panic, wondering if he should go and find his father...

"I'll go pick up the parts. Keep your hands off." Bob grumbled as he left.

Stephen didn't say anything and returned to the lathe workshop to continue measuring the precision of the finished products. Joshua silently followed behind, standing next to him when he spoke to the workers.

Once the details were confirmed, Stephen carried several bags of samples back to his office. Outside the factory area, Joshua caught up with him, trying to make amends.

"Stephen, let me carry them for you."

Stephen stopped and looked at him.

Joshua quickly averted his gaze, unsure of why he felt Stephen was a bit angry.

After a moment, Stephen handed him a bag of stainless steel parts. He took it, and the weight of the metal mass caused him to bend over immediately.

"Can you handle it?"

Joshua hastily used both hands. "Yes." Seeing Stephen effortlessly carrying two bags, he hadn't expected it to be this heavy, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Stephen walked briskly ahead, while Joshua struggled to keep up, holding a load of heavy objects.

"Thank you just now."

Soon, Joshua began to pant heavily. Stephen finally slowed his pace.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"What should I say?"

Stephen stopped and put the things in his hands on the ground. "Why didn't you tell Bob to back off? Aren't you disgusted by his inappropriate behavior?"

Joshua's face reddened, and he stuttered, "We are all men, maybe... his personality is just less concerned with niceties..."

Stephen said coldly, "Is that so? In the workshop, there are many 'less concerned with niceties' guys like him. You better be mentally prepared."

"..."

Stephen grabbed the bag of heavy parts in Joshua's arms, and walked briskly alone.

As soon as Stephen returned to the office, he began to regret it.

He knew exactly what was going on with him. He couldn't stand seeing Joshua being bullied, yet he found him too soft, anyone could take advantage of him.

Not long after he came back, Joshua also returned. Stephen sat in his office, feeling distracted, occasionally glancing at the blurry figure outside through the frosted glass, feeling anxious inside.

Throughout the afternoon, Joshua didn't go back to the workshop, he just stayed in the office. And when it was time to leave work, he didn't follow the crowd to the cafeteria.

When Stephen saw that there was no one else outside, he left.

As he passed by Joshua's office, he deliberately slowed down his pace, but the words he wanted to say couldn't come out, even after he walked out the door.

Joshua just kept sitting there, seemingly oblivious to his presence.

After leaving the office, Stephen felt deflated and somewhat frustrated. It was no longer possible to turn back, so he walked aimlessly towards the cafeteria.

"Stephen..." someone behind him gasped and caught up, "Don't go to the cafeteria today."

Suppressing his surprise and astonishment, Stephen coughed and asked expressionlessly, "Why?"

"Somebody brought some food for my dad in the afternoon, and he asked me to call you."

"Were you waiting for me just now?"

"Yeah, after you finished your work." Joshua blushed as he spoke, feeling very embarrassed. "I got engrossed in reading a novel and didn't see you come out."

"... "

Joshua's father didn't live in the workers' dormitory.

He had an apartment in the neighboring community, which Stephen had been to before. Since Joshua said so, he walked confidently towards his boss's house.

Joshua caught up quickly, hesitated for a moment, and explained, "My dad asked me to go to the workshop. He wants me to familiarize myself with every job. I don't know how to get along with those people... Thank you for what happened at lunchtime."

Seeing Joshua willingly apologize to him, Stephen decided to let the matter go and instead asked, "What novel are you reading?"

"Oh, it's nothing, just reading casually... It's that '1Q84' by Haruki Murakami."

"The Japanese writer?"

Joshua's eyes brightened, "You've read it too?"

"No, I've just heard about it."

"Oh."

Upon reaching the Joshua father's house, Joshua was assigned to the kitchen to clean the seafood delivered by the supplier.

Stephen wanted to help but was pulled by Hank to the study to discuss work matters.

As dusk set in, the three of them sat at the dinner table.

"Josh, go get two bottles of wine and wash a few glasses."

Stephen watched him bustling around and wanted to help, but his father pulled him back. "Stephen, let's start eating. Treat it as your own home, don't be so polite."

"Joshua is really good at cooking. Mr. Song, you're fortunate."

"He only has this one good quality. Look at him, he's been with the company for a year and hasn't made any progress. It's been worrying me."

Joshua brought the wine, and after a few drinks, Hank talked about his plans for the second half of the year, mainly about assigning new tasks to Stephen again.

"Stephen, the economic situation in the country hasn't been good in recent years. I still want you to put more effort into expanding the overseas market."

"Rest assured, Mr. Song, I'll do my best."

Hank poured him a small glass and they toasted each other, "With you saying that, I feel relieved." In the midst of their conversation, he unintentionally glanced at his useless son, and Joshua quickly lowered his head.

Seeing his own son in such a miserable state, Hank felt annoyed and quickly redirected his attention to Stephen.

"You tell me what you need, whether we need to recruit new people, what kind of people we should recruit, it's all up to you. You've put in the effort, naturally I won't mistreat you."

"Thank you, Mr. Song." Stephen also glanced at Joshua sitting beside him with his head down all the time. "Mr. Song, Joshua has some foundation in foreign languages. Why not let him assist me in handling the overseas business?"

Joshua suddenly looked up, gazing at Stephen in surprise.

Hank's delight was evident. He had wanted Stephen to take his son under his wing before but had been turned down. Now that he had voluntarily proposed it, he naturally couldn't ask for more.

"If you think he's suitable, then take him with you. Josh, raise a glass to Stephen and remember, in the company, you're Stephen's subordinate, and you must obey his orders."

Joshua quickly nodded.

He raised his glass to Stephen, which made him feel awkward. In the end, under the watchful gaze of his father, Joshua downed the entire glass.

It burned his throat and turned his face red, making him blush like a blooming peach blossom in early spring.

The dinner lasted from dusk until late at night. Aside from a glass for Joshua, Hank and Stephen finished two bottles of wine. Joshua's father was completely drunk and Joshua helped him to his room to sleep.

Stephen sat on the sofa, lowering his head.

Joshua nudged his shoulder. "Stephen, are you okay?"

Stephen slowly raised his head, staring blankly. "I'm fine."

"Have some tea to sober up." Joshua handed him a cup of hot tea. "My dad is always like this, constantly dragging people to drink with him. You're also drunk. Stay here tonight, there's an empty room."

Joshua stood above him, bending slightly to block the overhead light.

Stephen was enveloped by his figure and the subtle fragrance emanating from him, feeling light and ethereal. He nodded in agreement.

Joshua went to his own room to get a guest bedding while Stephen stood up, feeling dizzy, and followed him.