Chapter 13
As exam week approached, the training base classes naturally paused. However, the class monitor of the base class sent out a group notice:
[We’ve established contact with Xunchang Insurance Company under Tianhe Group. They will be open for visits on June 25th. The itinerary includes touring the company, participating in a simulated practice in the telemarketing department, and dining at the employee cafeteria in Tianhe Tower (I heard it’s the best cafeteria, with river views from the floor-to-ceiling windows on the 27th floor!). If anyone has scheduling conflicts, please let me know in the group. I’ll tally the numbers to arrange the bus accordingly.]
Tan Ning wasn’t interested in such activities, but he saw the notice two days late.
By the time the class monitor handed him the temporary meal ticket for the Tianhe employee cafeteria, he belatedly said, “I forgot to mention I won’t be going. Is it still possible?”
The class monitor looked exasperated. “Why didn’t you say so yesterday? We’ve already booked the bus and confirmed the numbers, and now you say you’re not going…”
Tan Ning replied, “Sorry, then I’ll go.”
So, after finishing his last exam in Legal History, Tan Ning boarded the training base’s bus to visit Xunchang Insurance Company.
There were twenty-one people in total. When Tan Ning got on the bus and saw Zheng Yu sitting behind him, he suddenly realized that Zheng Yu also participated in the base class—it had taken him half a semester to notice.
Zheng Yu didn’t even look at him. He put on his neckband headphones and turned to look out the window, as if they were complete strangers.
Tan Ning felt nothing about this and silently sat down.
No one sat beside him.
As the bus slowly started moving, Tan Ning heard someone mention Lei Xin behind him.
“Isn’t Lei Xin coming today?”
“Why would he come? Isn’t his dad from Tianhe? He’s probably tired of it.”
“Really? Then Lin Song’an definitely won’t come either.”
“What do you care if he comes?”
“No! I’m just genuinely curious about Tianhe! Also, don’t you want to know what the daily life of a rich heir is like? Is it like in TV dramas?”
Tan Ning thought to himself: The daily life of a rich heir is just hitting on me whenever he feels like it, asking, “Shall we meet tonight?”
He guessed that Lin Song’an wouldn’t come, but when they arrived at the insurance company, he found that Lin Song’an was already there waiting.
Standing at the back of the group, wearing noise-canceling headphones, Tan Ning didn’t hear the commotion caused by Lin Song’an’s arrival, but the familiar scent reached him first. Tan Ning paused and looked up to meet Lin Song’an’s smiling eyes.
Lin Song’an raised an eyebrow at him.
Tan Ning instinctively looked around and realized the group had already turned a corner, leaving only him and Lin Song’an behind.
Beside them was an indoor plant display—no one else was around.
Tan Ning breathed a sigh of relief and was about to walk forward when Lin Song’an stopped him. Lin Song’an took off his headphones and put them on his own ears. “What kind of headphones are these? The noise cancellation is amazing.”
Tan Ning looked down at his phone, intending to turn the music volume to the maximum. Lin Song’an covered his phone screen with his hand. “Avoiding me again? Don’t we still get to meet once more this month?”
Tan Ning complied.
Lin Song’an pulled him into his arms and gave him a kiss. Noticing Tan Ning’s tension, he smiled and said, “Are you still worried about being seen? Do you think anyone would come back to find you if you got separated from the group?”
He always knew that Tan Ning didn’t fit in with others.
Tan Ning thought: True.
So he became even more compliant.
He thought that the unpredictable Lin Song’an would pull him into some office for a quick encounter, but Lin Song’an just kissed him, lightly biting his lips, and then let him go. Holding his wrist, he led him forward. “Let’s check out the telemarketing department; isn’t this an important part of your itinerary today?”
Tan Ning struggled a couple of times, trying to break free from Lin Song’an’s iron grip before anyone appeared.
Twenty students crowded into the already bustling telemarketing department. Even if Tan Ning and Lin Song’an walked in hand in hand, probably no one would notice. Originally, they had to choose between a car insurance PPT presentation and a telemarketing simulation for their practical class. The latter won by a landslide. Although insurance sales had nothing to do with what they learned in the base class, students naturally were more curious about foundational work and refused to continue attending lectures outside campus.
Some students did exceptionally well, especially Zheng Yu. As soon as the call connected, he delivered an impassioned opening, and the customer actually started chatting with him. The sales representative next to him sent information to his computer, pointed to two lines, and had Zheng Yu read them. In the end, the customer proactively added the sales representative’s corporate WeChat—it all went very smoothly.
Everyone applauded. “Amazing, Zheng Yu! How come you’re not nervous at all?”
Zheng Yu stood up with a smile, enjoying the admiring gazes, and said modestly, “Not really; I was just lucky. I think the other person might be socially anxious and was too embarrassed to refuse me.”
Some students whispered among themselves, “What’s his name?”
“I think it’s Zheng Yu; he’s that Tan Ning’s roommate.”
Zheng Yu’s smile faded slightly.
Tan Ning wasn’t interested in the chaotic work of the telemarketing department, but Lin Song’an seemed intent on teasing him, constantly pushing him forward and whispering in his ear, “Make a call and let me see.”
Tan Ning said irritably, “No, stay away from me.”
Lin Song’an leaned in and whispered, “Hurry up and make the call, or I’ll kiss you in front of everyone.”
Just then, Zheng Yu turned his head. Tan Ning was startled and quickly stepped forward. The hostess in charge thought Tan Ning wanted to try and kindly guided him to a seat. The classmates around didn’t pay attention to Tan Ning’s sudden appearance.
“Classmate, here’s the procedure. Do you remember the practice demonstration we just went through?” the hostess said enthusiastically.
“Uh?” Tan Ning looked confused.
While the practice demonstration was happening, Tan Ning had been passionately kissing Lin Song’an.
The hostess didn’t notice Tan Ning’s confusion and had him sit down. “The customer numbers are here. Just put it on speaker. I’m right beside you; it’s okay.”
Tan Ning dialed one of the numbers.
The hostess said, “First, greet the customer.”
The call connected. Tan Ning said coldly, “Hello, sir—”
Before he could finish, the call was hung up.
“……”
Lin Song’an burst out laughing.
Everyone’s attention was drawn over. Lin Song’an suppressed his laughter, raised his hand to greet the department manager of the insurance company, diverting everyone’s gaze elsewhere. “Sister Yu, long time no see.”
“Young Master Lin,” Yu Yanli walked over, smiling, “What brings you here today? Is Chairman Lin here too?”
“No, some classmates from the college came for a visit today.”
“Oh, I remember now. Sorry, I’ve been so busy I almost forgot. Are all the students here?” Yu Yanli quickly walked over to Lin Song’an’s side. Turning her head, she saw Tan Ning and exclaimed in surprise, “Teacher Tan?”
Tan Ning had found the voice familiar earlier. He didn’t expect it to be Ms. Yu, the parent of his tutoring student. He stood up to greet her, “Ms. Yu.”
“You know each other?” Lin Song’an asked.
Yu Yanli said, “Yes, Teacher Tan tutors my son and does an excellent job.”
“In what way?”
“Teacher Tan’s lectures are very well-organized, and he’s very patient with children. My son really enjoys his classes now.”
Very patient.
Lin Song’an smiled at Tan Ning, meaningfully saying, “Is that so.”
Tan Ning gave him a sidelong glance.
“Teacher Tan, you’re supposed to come to our house for a lesson today, right? You’ve worked hard during the day; how about postponing it by a day?”
“No need; it’s okay.”
Tan Ning gave up his seat to the classmates behind him. Everyone was staring at him and Lin Song’an; no one paid attention to Zheng Yu, who had been the focus just moments ago.
Yu Yunli noticed that Lin Song’an and Tan Ning seemed to have a close relationship, so she brought Tan Ning over to the side as well. The three of them stood chatting by a secluded indoor plant display. She took the initiative to say, “Young Master Lin and Teacher Tan aren’t in the same major, are you? I remember you said you study law, Teacher Tan.”
Tan Ning nodded, “Yes.”
“Young Master Lin studies finance and is graduating next year, right?”
“Yes,” Lin Song’an answered briefly.
“I didn’t expect you two to know each other. By the way, didn’t Mr. Lei’s son come today?”
“He’s not interested in these activities.”
Yu Yunli smiled and asked, “Are there any other activities?”
“It seems there’s a hiking or island camping trip planned later on, but the specifics haven’t been decided yet.”
“Wow, I’m so envious of you all.” Before Yu Yunli could finish speaking, her phone rang. It was work-related matters needing her decision. After hanging up, she apologized, “I’m sorry, Young Master Lin, I need to handle an urgent matter first.”
“Go ahead.”
After Yu Yunli left, Lin Song’an pulled Tan Ning into an empty meeting room, pressed his toe against Tan Ning’s, and approached him. Tan Ning had no choice but to lean back against the table, his body slightly tilted back. But he couldn’t escape Lin Song’an’s shameless behavior. Lin Song’an slipped his hand under Tan Ning’s clothes, “Teacher Tan is so patient with students; why aren’t you patient with me?”
Tan Ning remained silent.
Lin Song’an pecked at his neck, biting and sucking, determined to leave kiss marks on the side of his neck. Tan Ning didn’t bother resisting; whether he pushed Lin Song’an away or not, the outcome was the same. Sometimes, Tan Ning couldn’t tell whether Lin Song’an responded better to softness or resistance.
He had noticed a pattern: when Lin Song’an was in a good mood, even if Tan Ning treated him a bit better, Lin Song’an wouldn’t be any happier. But when Lin Song’an was in a bad mood, if Tan Ning resisted strongly, Lin Song’an would instead become happier and kiss him relentlessly.
Tan Ning frowned, looked at Lin Song’an, and said, “You’re really strange.”
Lin Song’an chuckled, “Strange how?”
Tan Ning thought: You seem to have some masochistic tendencies.
But then he reconsidered: No, the one being tormented in bed seems to be me.
Lin Song’an didn’t wait for Tan Ning’s explanation and started kissing him directly. In between kisses, he asked, “What are your plans for the vacation?”
“Going home.”
“It’s too far; delay it a few days.”
“What do you want?”
“July and August—the summer break is two months, and we won’t see each other. How about you give me four times’ worth in advance these few days?”
Tan Ning couldn’t bear it anymore, “What are you thinking about all the time?”
Lin Song’an, “Thinking about how to spend these two thousand yuan.”
Tan Ning snorted, “Boring.”
Lin Song’an bit down on Tan Ning’s shoulder; his sharp teeth made Tan Ning feel some pain, but he pressed his lips together and endured it.
Lin Song’an suddenly said, “I also think I’m strange.”
Tan Ning was slightly stunned, gazing down at his own shoes.
“Every time you avoid eye contact like this, I want to find a way to make you look at me proactively.”
Tan Ning’s eyelashes trembled lightly.
“Not that cold gaze,” Lin Song’an lifted Tan Ning to sit on the table, looked up and stared at him, then leaned in to kiss him after a moment. Their warm breaths mingled, and even their voices seemed ethereal. He said, “I want you to look at me the way I look at you.”
An unwilling kiss.
When they parted, Lin Song’an asked hoarsely, “Why do you always avoid me?”
