Chapter 14
After leaving the reception room, Lin Song’an disappeared.
Tan Ning rejoined the group. Before heading to the employee cafeteria, the class monitor suddenly said that Lin Song’an’s father might be coming today.
Tan Ning was taken aback and felt inexplicably annoyed.
However, when they arrived, the person in charge said, “Chairman Lin initially planned to come meet Young Master Lin’s classmates, but he had a last-minute meeting and couldn’t make it.”
The classmates whispered among themselves, “His dad spoils him too much, still treats him like a kid.”
Tan Ning breathed a sigh of relief.
He put on his noise-canceling headphones and silently observed the Tianhe Group’s building—a towering structure encased in glass curtain walls, gleaming under the sunlight. Everyone was impeccably dressed, exuding the aura of elite professionals. There were numerous rules here, with strict hierarchical order. The 36th floor housed the chairman’s office.
He stood in the employee cafeteria on the 27th floor.
So, it wasn’t that unattainable after all.
The cafeteria was indeed lavish, with an environment comparable to a high-end Western restaurant. Tan Ning carried his tray to a corner, not bothering to fight for a seat by the floor-to-ceiling windows. Just as he sat down, he suddenly met Zheng Yu’s gaze.
It wasn’t the first time Tan Ning had seen that kind of look—filled with hostility and hatred. It seemed Zheng Yu disliked him even more now.
While eating, Tan Ning received a message from Yue Ying.
[When are you going on vacation? Have you bought your ticket yet?]
Tan Ning replied:
[Tomorrow. Haven’t bought it yet.]
There was no direct high-speed rail from the school to his hometown, only a coach bus that took about four hours. Tickets weren’t in high demand; supply usually exceeded demand. Every time, even if Tan Ning bought his ticket on the last day, he could still get a decent seat.
A few minutes later, Yue Ying sent another message:
[Will you be back during the summer break?]
[Yes.]
After finishing their meal, the group boarded the bus.
Back at the dormitory, Tan Ning began packing his luggage. He removed his bedsheets and duvet cover, folded his quilt, and stuffed it into a vacuum bag. He also took down items from his bed. As he passed by, Zheng Yu glanced at him, suddenly stopped, and said in a strange tone, “Didn’t expect you to be so wealthy.”
At that moment, Tan Ning was holding those two gift boxes.
Xu Qingyang looked over. He had been watching anime and only heard Zheng Yu speaking, so he asked, “What’s about being wealthy?”
Zheng Yu sneered, “Nothing, just feels like some people hide their true selves—acting one way on the surface and another in private.”
Xu Qingyang instantly understood whom Zheng Yu was insinuating about. He pursed his lips and didn’t respond, continuing to watch his anime.
Tan Ning pretended not to hear, stuffing his things into his bag. Zheng Yu shook the water off his hands and walked back to his bed. After packing his suitcase and preparing to book his ticket, Tan Ning received a call from Lin Song’an. In the dormitory, Tan Ning habitually declined Lin Song’an’s calls. Moments later, Lin Song’an sent a message:
[Parking lot of the Boxue Building.]
Tan Ning thought for a moment and replied:
[I booked a ticket for tomorrow.]
[Hmm, I’ll let you go tomorrow.]
Lin Song’an was impervious to refusal, and Tan Ning didn’t feel like arguing with him. Dragging his suitcase, he headed toward the door, just in time to run into He Qingrui coming upstairs. Due to the heat, He Qingrui was wearing just a sleeveless vest, holding a bag of plum candies. He was startled to see Tan Ning. “Leaving so early?”
Tan Ning nodded.
“Want one?” He offered a small packaged plum candy to Tan Ning.
Now it was Tan Ning’s turn to be stunned.
Seeing no reaction, He Qingrui felt a bit awkward. Tan Ning’s slightly longer hair always hung down, covering half his face. When he looked down, others couldn’t see his expression. Remembering what Zheng Yu had said, He felt uneasy and stepped aside. “Am I blocking you? Sorry.”
“Thanks, but I don’t really eat sweets,” Tan Ning came back to his senses and struggled to lift his suitcase.
“Ah?” He watched as Tan Ning walked past him.
He thought the conversation was over.
But before going downstairs, Tan Ning suddenly turned back and said to He Qingrui, “Thank you.”
His tone was earnest.
“Ah?” He Qingrui was taken aback. “No—no need to thank me.”
After Tan Ning’s figure disappeared around the stairwell corner, He Qingrui couldn’t help but think: What a strange atmosphere. Those brief ten seconds felt as long as a century. Maybe I shouldn’t initiate conversations next time.
Isn’t Tan Ning actually autistic?
But his learning ability is strong, and he answers questions in class just fine. He dismissed that thought.
Maybe he has some sort of emotional deficiency.
Can someone like him really have friends or lovers? Could he like someone? Will he date or get married?
He popped a plum candy into his mouth, muttering, “Probably not. With his personality, who could tolerate him?”
At the parking lot, before Tan Ning even reached the car, the trunk automatically opened.
Another new car, with an unfamiliar logo.
This was the fourth car Tan Ning had seen in the past year and three months. Lin Song’an changed cars as casually as changing clothes, but he favored black, shiny vehicles with sharp lines. So, among the rows of modest cars in the parking lot, Tan Ning could always spot Lin Song’an’s car at first glance.
He put his suitcase in the trunk and got into the car.
Lin Song’an was on a call, one hand on the steering wheel, the other reaching over to take Tan Ning’s backpack.
“Alright, that’s settled. I’ll be available the day after tomorrow.”
After hanging up, Lin Song’an placed Tan Ning’s backpack in the back seat. “My mom had something urgent at noon and called me home. I wanted to message you, but she kept calling nonstop, so I didn’t get a chance.”
Tan Ning slowly realized that Lin Song’an was explaining why he had suddenly disappeared during the day.
Just as Tan Ning was about to speak, Lin Song’an added on his behalf, “Actually, it doesn’t matter if I don’t report. After all, someone doesn’t care.”
Tan Ning shrugged.
The car started moving slowly. Lin Song’an said, “Let’s stop by the supermarket first. I want to buy some ice cream, and we’re out of condoms at home—we need to stock up.”
Tan Ning replied with an “Oh.”
Lin Song’an looked at him meaningfully and suddenly laughed.
Tan Ning quietly gazed out the window, then asked, “What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing. Just the longer I spend with you, the more interesting I find you.”
Tan Ning didn’t respond.
He noticed that Lin Song’an was still wearing that watch.
Black strap, deep blue dial.
The most popular model from the Constellation series. Tan Ning had liked it at first sight and impulsively spent half his savings to buy it, only to find out Lin Song’an already had one.
Lin Song’an wasn’t someone who got attached to things—be it cars, watches, or clothes. What he treasured one day might be replaced the next. But this watch, Lin Song’an had worn for so long. Was it a gift from that boy named Ye Ling?
“When you were tutoring Lin Qi back then, I listened outside and heard how you managed to get him hooked with just a few words. From initial hostility to eventually asking to study proactively. I thought you were quite interesting.”
Resting his elbow on the window and his face on his hand, Tan Ning turned his head to look elsewhere, replying nonchalantly with an “Mm.”
“Who upset you now?”
“Nobody,” Tan Ning said.
They finally drove out of the campus. Lin Song’an rolled down the windows, driving toward the Tianhe villa along the main road lined with sycamore trees. The greenery on both sides was lush, the sun bright—a free and easy summer vibe.
Suddenly, Tan Ning reached out his hand, letting the breeze flow through his fingers and ruffle his hair.
Lin Song’an increasingly felt he was like a kitten.
Curious yet weary of the world.
After a long while, Lin Song’an parked the car in the mall’s parking lot and asked, “What time is your ticket?”
Tan Ning casually replied, “Nine o’clock.”
“Nine o’clock? Impossible. I checked; there are only two departures—7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Where did you get 9 o’clock from?” Lin Song’an stopped, grabbed the hand Tan Ning had hidden in his sleeve, and said as if catching him red-handed, “You haven’t bought your ticket yet, have you?”
Tan Ning immediately took out his phone to book a ticket.
Lin Song’an quickly snatched his phone and, dragging the stumbling Tan Ning, led him into the mall. “Don’t buy it yet. Come on, come on.”
They went to the snack section to buy some chips and biscuits, got some fruit, and also picked up the chocolate ice cream Lin Song’an had been craving. Lin Song’an asked how they would handle dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow. Tan Ning succinctly said, “Takeout.”
“Can’t you cook a meal for me?”
Young Master Lin had cooked for love before, even though the result was merely edible.
“I can’t.”
Lin Song’an pinched his ear. “I know you can.”
Tan Ning had cooked before.
Once, Lin Song’an was in his susceptible period. Even after taking medication, it didn’t help much. He tossed and turned all night, woke up hungry at dawn, and staggered to the kitchen to find something to eat.
Tan Ning followed him, watching as he stuffed a nearly expired slice of bread into his mouth. Unable to stand it, he stopped him. Tan Ning rummaged through the fridge, found some ingredients, and quickly made a bowl of noodles for Lin Song’an, who ate every last drop.
The next day, when Lin Song’an finally recovered from his susceptible period, he brought it up again. Tan Ning flatly denied it and refused to enter the kitchen again, as if making Lin Song’an a midnight snack was some great humiliation.
But Lin Song’an always cherished the taste of that bowl of noodles. He clearly remembered it was pickled mustard and shredded pork noodles.
Lin Song’an grabbed two packs of pickled mustard greens, put them in the shopping cart, and coaxed Tan Ning, “Make it for me one more time.”
Tan Ning ignored him.
“I really want to eat it.”
Tan Ning continued walking forward. Lin Song’an started getting handsy, hugging his waist in an empty aisle and biting his ear.
Tan Ning always felt Lin Song’an had some sort of skin hunger disorder. He couldn’t understand why Lin Song’an was so affectionate with him when everyone else wished to keep a three-meter distance from him, like a scholar enchanted by a monster in ancient folklore.
If explained by pheromones and natural compatibility, it would make sense.
But he’s a beta.
His earlobe was bitten, and Tan Ning struggled in Lin Song’an’s arms but couldn’t break free.
He suddenly thought of the Tianhe Tower they visited today.
From the suited white-collar workers to the chairman’s office on the 36th floor, Lin Song’an in his white shirt and black trousers, the family photos in Lin Song’an’s bedroom—many images flashed through his mind, including what he heard from Lin Qi and Mrs. Lin when he first got involved with Lin Song’an.
Coming back to his senses, Lin Song’an was still pestering him like a spoiled child, insisting on that bowl of noodles. The noisy mall was crowded, but Lin Song’an was reckless.
Tan Ning finally gave in, picking up the two packs of pickled mustard greens Lin Song’an had just tossed into the cart. “Get two different ones; you picked the spicy flavor.”
Lin Song’an was slightly stunned, then quickly realized.
He chuckled and released Tan Ning. Before he could turn around to grab the original flavor, Tan Ning had already pushed the cart away.
At checkout, Lin Song’an pointed to the condoms on the shelf and asked Tan Ning, “Want to try a new flavor?”
Tan Ning rolled his eyes at him and ignored him.
Lin Song’an leisurely selected various sizes and brands, grabbing a bunch. When he placed them on the counter, even the cashier blushed. Tan Ning abandoned the cart and walked alone to the escalator, playing on his phone, pretending not to know Lin Song’an.
