Chapter 41
Tan Ning was in the library, preparing ahead of time for the case report he had to submit for his Law and Business course next semester. For the past two days, he had been researching his topic and was just starting to get some ideas. Taking advantage of the school’s free access to international case databases, he downloaded a bunch of English-language cases.
Although Tan Ning didn’t have nearsightedness, he had some astigmatism, so he didn’t like staring at electronic screens. He preferred reading paper copies. So he downloaded the files onto a USB drive, intending to go to the printing room to print them out. Just as he was about to get up, someone walked over and sat next to him.
It was Ye Ling.
Describing Ye Ling as a doll was not an exaggeration: curly hair, a face with baby fat, round eyes. Even though he was glaring fiercely at Tan Ning, he didn’t make people feel afraid.
“Can we talk?”
Tan Ning put down the USB drive, closed his notebook, and followed Ye Ling out of the library.
“I’ve thought and thought, and I still can’t understand why he would choose a beta. I hardly have any betas around me,” Ye Ling turned and stared at Tan Ning. “Do you think you’re smart? Think that by hooking up with the future heir of Tianhe Group, everything will go smoothly? Forget about his stubborn mother—just with his level-nine pheromones, you won’t have a good life in the future.”
Tan Ning said nothing.
Ye Ling continued his tirade: “Don’t act all high and mighty, as if I’m some clown jumping around. After all this fuss, do you think I still like him?”
Tan Ning shrugged. “So what did you come here to tell me?”
“I want to see you two break up.”
“How does that benefit you?”
“It doesn’t. Even if you break up, he won’t be with me. But I just want to make you both unhappy.”
Tan Ning looked away.
“I’ve liked him for many years. Don’t think he’s as gentlemanly and upright as he appears. He’s not. He’s scheming and deeply calculating.”
Tan Ning silently agreed in his heart.
Lin Song’an indeed had two completely different sides: his innate sense of authority and his love of acting coy in front of Tan Ning. The two were not contradictory.
“My dad always says that the Lin father and son are smiling tigers. Don’t think you’re getting any advantage.”
Tan Ning sighed. He really wasn’t good at dealing with aggressive rivals in love. He could only speak sincerely: “Even his mother can’t make us break up. What makes you think you can?”
“I—” Ye Ling was at a loss for words.
He had just heard the same thing from Lin Song’an.
Due to the heart palpitations caused by top-level alpha pheromones, he couldn’t lose his temper in front of Lin Song’an. Now, he could only vent his anger on Tan Ning. Pointing at him, he said, “Don’t be too pleased with yourself. Do you think Lin Song’an’s mother will let you off so easily? When she gets serious, even the entire leadership of Tianhe Group doesn’t dare to make a sound. She’s still calling the Yan family three times a day.”
Ye Ling sneered coldly. “You won’t be happy for long.”
As soon as he finished speaking, He Qingrui came running over. Seeing Tan Ning at a disadvantage, he stood in front of him. “What are you doing? Looking for a fight?”
Ye Ling rolled his eyes. “Another beta. Birds of a feather flock together.”
“Looking for a beating, huh? Didn’t your mother teach you manners?”
Both were firecrackers, igniting at the slightest spark. Tan Ning grabbed He Qingrui’s arm helplessly and said, “Thank you for the reminder, but I’m already prepared.”
Ye Ling found it laughable. “Prepared with what? Your seventy-year-old grandfather or your remarried mother?”
These people seemed to have no regard for others’ privacy. Tan Ning felt some anger but remained calm. “With Lin Song’an’s true heart, with his promises to me.”
Ye Ling’s expression changed. He snorted coldly. “Not worth a damn.”
“A true heart isn’t worth a damn?”
Ye Ling gazed intently at Tan Ning. “Yes, a true heart is worthless in the face of pheromones. Do you believe that?”
He exaggeratedly covered his mouth with his hand. “Oh, I almost forgot—you don’t have pheromones. You’ve never experienced that feeling.”
He Qingrui rolled up his sleeves, ready to curse, but Tan Ning stopped him. In a calm tone, Tan Ning said, “Then how are you any different from Lin Song’an’s mother?”
Ye Ling was stunned, then flung his sleeves and left.
After he left, He Qingrui looked at Tan Ning in confusion. “What was that all about?”
“Lin Song’an’s childhood sweetheart.”
“An old flame came knocking so soon? Being a rich family’s daughter-in-law is really not easy.”
Tan Ning glanced at him sideways. “You seem to have a lot of free time?”
“Not at all. I had just picked a spot at the entrance. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw you, so I rushed over. Not even a word of thanks, and you’re so cold.”
Tan Ning walked over to the vending machine, bought a bottle of drink for He Qingrui. “Thanks for standing up for me.”
He Qingrui felt a bit shy at his gesture, scratching his head. “Tan Ning, isn’t it a bit tough dating someone like Lin Song’an?”
They walked toward the study room.
Tan Ning didn’t answer He Qingrui’s question.
“But after dating someone like Lin Song’an, anyone else who comes along would seem far inferior, right?”
Tan Ning stopped walking. After a moment, he smiled at He Qingrui. “There’s some truth to that.”
“What’s the other half?” He Qingrui pressed.
“I haven’t thought about dating anyone other than him.”
*
Lin Song’an was assigned by his father, Lin Yexun, to work in the Marketing Department. In name, he was the assistant to the director, but in reality, he was acting as the director, responsible for several divisions.
Thanks to following his father to the company since he was young and accompanying Fang Jin to various events, even though he parachuted into the Marketing Department, Lin Song’an demonstrated strong adaptability. He quickly understood the employees’ situations, familiarized himself with the work, and whether it was assigning tasks or leading discussions, he handled everything methodically.
When team members exceeded expectations, he would proactively send red packets in the work group chat and order takeout. Everyone would gather in the conference room for a celebration party. Initially, because he was the chairman’s son and a level-nine alpha, everyone both respected and feared him. Now, after interacting with him, they found he wasn’t so unattainable.
Knowing that next month he would be arranged to go to the Engineering Department, some were reluctant to see him go.
“This afternoon, there’s no more work. You can all relax,” Lin Song’an said to his employees with a smile.
Everyone cheered.
Lin Song’an helped them close the conference room door. Turning around, he put away his smile.
Entering the elevator, he happened to run into an elder of the company’s board, Uncle Qin, who pointed at him and said, “You lad, you’re even better than your father at winning people’s hearts.”
Lin Song’an smiled humbly. “Uncle Qin, how’s your health lately?”
“Quite good, but not as good as your father’s. He’s been in high spirits lately, like a young man in love. What’s going on? Have your parents finally reconciled?”
Lin Song’an was slightly startled but replied, “Yes, they’ve been getting along well recently.”
Back in the office, Lin Yexun wasn’t there. The secretary said Chairman Lin had gone to inspect a construction site.
“Which site?”
The secretary checked the memo. “The Jiangyu New City single apartment project, which recently started.”
Lin Song’an nodded.
Sitting alone on the sofa, he wanted to message Tan Ning but remembered the trouble Ye Ling had caused that morning. So he first found He Qingrui in his contacts to inquire about the situation.
[Someone did come to find Tan Ning, called him out of the library, babbled a bunch of threats, but didn’t get physical. Tan Ning didn’t really suffer.]
[I see. Thanks.]
Lin Song’an leaned back on the sofa, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Eager to achieve results quickly and show Fang Jin that her son was capable of handling things independently without her protection, Lin Song’an had recently loaded himself with too much work.
Whenever he stopped, he felt physically and mentally exhausted. This morning, he had to deal with the unreasonable Ye Ling, making him feel even more helpless.
He messaged Tan Ning.
[Ning Ning, are you busy?]
[Busy.] When little cat Tan turned cold, he wouldn’t spare even an extra word for Lin Song’an.
[How late will you be busy? I’ll wait for you.]
[No need.]
Lin Song’an thought that Tan Ning was probably angry about Ye Ling.
It was understandable. Ye Ling still restrained himself in front of Lin Song’an, but in front of Tan Ning, he probably said all sorts of unpleasant things. The fact that Tan Ning was still willing to reply to his messages made Lin Song’an grateful.
[Ning Ning, please talk to me. I’ll come to the school to find you. Can we chat for a bit?]
[No.]
The expected coldness—Lin Song’an was used to it. The suit he was wearing felt somewhat restrictive. He planned to go home and change clothes before going to the school to appease Tan Ning.
Driving back home, from a distance, he saw the lights in the living room were on. His heart skipped a beat, sensing something unbelievable.
He parked the car in the garage, trying to minimize the sound of parking and turning off the engine.
He didn’t even dare to go in immediately. Walking around to the yard, he looked through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the living room and saw a figure moving in the kitchen.
It was Tan Ning.
Tan Ning was cooking.
He was still wearing that cute beige sweater, with a pale yellow apron tied around him, his hair half tied up.
He was probably making soup. Wearing oven mitts, he lifted the pot lid, scooped in a few spoonfuls of salt, stirred with a long-handled ladle, and then tasted it.
He got burned and his shoulder shuddered.
His figure was slender, yet he carried a strength that smoothed away all of Lin Song’an’s worries.
This was a scene Lin Song’an often dreamed of after marriage.
For a moment, he wondered if he was hallucinating from being too tired. His steps felt light as he entered the passcode, changed his shoes, and went inside.
Hearing the sound, Tan Ning didn’t react and continued chopping vegetables.
Lin Song’an hugged him from behind.
“You tricked me, little cat Tan.”
Tan Ning’s lips curved slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Lin Song’an buried his face in the crook of Tan Ning’s neck, taking a deep breath. “You really are…”
Lin Song’an thought: For the first time in his twenty-two years, he was willingly giving up control in a relationship.
“Little cat Tan, I’ve completely fallen for you.”
