Chapter 53
On Monday, after finishing his class, Tan Ning hurried to the office.
Since Manager Liu had been reprimanded by Fang Jin over Tan Ning, she found every little thing about him annoying and assigned him a lot of extra tasks.
Tan Ning didn’t complain, taking it all as valuable work experience.
Sometimes, even the assistant Tang Tang felt it was unfair and would whisper to him, “Tan Ning, you don’t need to file this document right now.”
Tan Ning would finish it anyway, replying, “It’s fine.”
During breaks, he would study for his exams, slowly going through his thick business law textbook. When Fang Jin passed by, he didn’t look up, fully absorbed in his work.
At lunchtime, a meal arrived from Lin Song’an, with one portion for Tan Ning and another for Fang Jin. Tan Ning thought Lin Song’an intended him to deliver Fang Jin’s portion, but the delivery person shook his head. “No need, Mr. Lin ordered me to deliver each portion separately.”
While eating in the break room, Tan Ning received a message from Lin Song’an: [Ning Ning, how’s the sweet and sour ribs?]
[They’re okay.]
[I also ordered a fruit platter; did you see it?]
[Yes, I saw it.]
[The food here is pretty good overall, though it can’t compare to the noodles you make, Ning Ning.]
Tan Ning missed one of the words, misreading it at first. Startled, he glanced around and then realized, after a few moments of contemplation, that while Lin Song’an had been bold the other night, he probably wouldn’t send anything explicit during the day. Looking down at his phone again, Tan Ning blushed.
Lin Song’an had corrupted him, he thought irritably. He’s filled my head with his dirty thoughts.
Meanwhile, far away, Lin Song’an found himself unfairly blamed when he received a cold reply: [No noodles for you.]
Puzzled, he couldn’t figure out what he’d done wrong.
After throwing away his lunchbox, Tan Ning took in the view from the window before heading back to continue his tasks. That afternoon, Manager Liu had him scan over ten documents, proofread two statements, and even help organize meeting. He had barely sat down when Manager Liu asked him to help move things for the R&D department.
Clearly, this was outside his job description.
Recalling Lin Song’an’s advice and Fang Jin’s previous words in her office, Tan Ning finally had enough. He said to Manager Liu, “You’re targeting me.”
Manager Liu was so shocked by his bluntness that she nearly choked on her tea.
“I applied for a legal internship, not a logistics job.”
Manager Liu glared at him. “You’ve got quite an attitude.”
“I didn’t stay here just to get an internship certificate, so there’s no need for me to blindly follow orders. I’ll only do my assigned tasks.”
Everyone around them exchanged glances, surprised by his boldness.
Manager Liu was left speechless.
He sat back at his workstation, put in his headphones, and returned to his reading, unfazed by Manager Liu’s angry muttering. Fang Jin’s secretary noticed the commotion and went upstairs to report it. Fang Jin was mildly surprised to hear the story. “He really said that?”
“Yes, Manager Liu was furious.”
Fang Jin couldn’t help but chuckle, “He’s still just a kid.”
The secretary laughed as well. Fang Jin told her, “Manager Liu’s been here a long time; she can be a bit overbearing, but she’s competent, so I overlook it. Still, give her a heads-up not to go overboard.”
“Understood.”
“And tell her to stop giving tasks to Tan Ning. He’s still a student with plenty of assignments. Let him have time to study.”
The secretary hesitated briefly, recalling the rumors circulating in the break room, speculating about Fang Jin and this intern. She nodded, “Got it.”
After the secretary left, Fang Jin received a call from Lin Yexun. She hesitated for a moment, then answered.
“Xiao Jin, how…how have you been lately?”
Lin Yexun’s voice sounded hoarse and weary, stripped of its former confidence.
“Better than you.”
“I wanted to apologize. I never gave you a proper apology after everything happened. No matter what, we’ve been married for nearly thirty years. I know you cared deeply about this family, and I did too. I don’t want things to end on such bad terms.”
“Haven’t we signed the divorce papers?”
“Yes, we have.”
“Then there’s nothing more to say.”
“Xiao Jin, please don’t hang up.”
“I don’t accept your apology, whether sincere or not—it’s all the same to me. Lin Yexun, if you want things to stay civil, drop the act and focus on helping our son clean up the mess you left behind.”
“I will.”
“Enough of the performance,” Fang Jin scoffed. “After all these years, I still know you, Lin Yexun.”
He didn’t reply.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up.”
“Xiao Jin, you shouldn’t have sent that report.”
She had known the moment she picked up the phone that he was calling about the report.
“You should be grateful it was only one report. You should be grateful I only mentioned misuse of power. After twenty years of marriage, I know your accounts inside and out—better than you do,” Fang Jin said coldly. “If you don’t want to lose your son’s respect entirely, I suggest you keep quiet.”
“Fang Jin! If this was all too much for you, why did you agree to marry me in the first place? Those first years of marriage, I kept telling you I was over it, that I’d cut ties. But you never believed me. You made life hell for both of us.”
“Think back, those first years. Didn’t I try hard enough?”
It was strange to think that these two could have been bound together for over twenty years, all because of pheromones.
“And that’s your excuse for cheating? Yes, I wasn’t perfect in this marriage—I was suspicious and never kind to you. I wasn’t a gentle wife. But marriage is a contract; you could’ve neglected me, traveled to avoid me, or filed for divorce. But you shouldn’t have crossed the line. When you extended your stay in Singapore that night, you should have known I’d never forgive you.”
With her pent-up anger finally released, Lin Yexun went silent.
She hung up and walked to the window, gazing at the distant scenery.
Twenty-five years had passed in a blink.
She belatedly realized that the joke was on her; she had imagined her marriage ending in endless entanglements and unresolved grudges with Lin Yexun.
Was it really pheromones that had trapped her all these years? Or her own stubbornness?
Could pheromones be that important?
*
The next day, Tan Ning noticed a significant reduction in his workload. For the entire morning, Manager Liu didn’t bother him.
His eyes grew tired from reading, so he asked Tang Tang if there was anything he could help with. She shook her head. “Nope, you just keep studying.”
Puzzled, but grateful for the lighter workload, he decided not to overthink it.
At the end of the workday, Tan Ning was heading out with his backpack. As he stepped down the stairs, he felt that familiar gaze on him again. This time, he was sure he wasn’t imagining things.
Among the crowd, he spotted the person watching him, hiding awkwardly among the people moving back and forth during the evening rush. When the person saw Tan Ning looking, they quickly ducked their head.
It was Yan Zhiyu.
He wore a light-colored jacket, his hair neat and short, giving him a quiet, refined look.
Unlike in the hotel, this time, Tan Ning dared to look at him. He could understand why Fang Jin might favor Yan Zhiyu. He was the kind of child any parent would love: obedient, quiet, polite, and well-behaved.
In contrast, Tan Ning felt he could barely align himself with the term “quiet.” He had always been labeled as “silent,” “brooding,” and “unlikable.”
Standing still, he watched Yan Zhiyu, who appeared flustered. Despite being the one following him, Yan Zhiyu looked like the wronged party.
Yan Zhiyu gathered his courage and took a step forward, speaking just loudly enough for Tan Ning to hear, “I don’t mean any harm, so please don’t worry. I’m just…curious about you.”
Tan Ning didn’t understand this curiosity.
“The other day at the hotel, when Lin Song’an would rather cut his hand with glass than succumb to pheromones, I couldn’t help but wonder—what kind of person are you?”
“So, you’ve been following me these days?”
“It’s not following. Please don’t be angry,” Yan Zhiyu said, nervously twisting his hands. “I don’t even know what’s come over me. I envy Lin Song’an because he has something worth resisting pheromones for. I don’t have that.”
Tan Ning’s expression changed slightly.
“That day was terrifying. The pheromone connection was intense, and I can’t forget it. I…I’ve been haunted by that feeling ever since.”
“So, do you intend to interfere with me and Lin Song’an?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Then what do you mean?”
Yan Zhiyu looked distressed, but Tan Ning couldn’t empathize. He coldly asked, “So, are you trying to come between Lin Song’an and me?”
Speechless, Yan Zhiyu finally looked up and said, “Tan Ning, you’re a beta.”
As if he’d struck at Tan Ning’s biggest weakness.
“Yes.”
Tan Ning’s calm reply made Yan Zhiyu uneasy.
Just then, Fang Jin’s car pulled up nearby. The driver flashed the headlights briefly, and both of them turned to see Fang Jin in the back seat, watching from a distance.
Yan Zhiyu mustered his courage, latching onto what he saw as Tan Ning and Lin Song’an’s weakest link. “Lin Song’an’s mother doesn’t approve of betas. There are many obstacles between you two.”
“So what?”
“But—”
Tan Ning turned away, heading toward Fang Jin’s car.
Fang Jin sat on the right side of the car, and Tan Ning opened the door on the left and got in, without asking for permission.
Yan Zhiyu’s eyes widened.
Tan Ning’s movements were natural and swift, even Fang Jin was caught off guard. She looked over at him, noticing his composed demeanor. Sitting upright with his hands on his knees, Tan Ning presented himself as if making an unspoken declaration to Yan Zhiyu.
Fang Jin smirked.
She told the driver, “Let’s go. To Tianhe Villa.”
The car slowly passed Yan Zhiyu, who lowered his head, seemingly ashamed of his actions today, his expression turning somber as he turned away.
As the car merged onto the main road, streetlights flickering by, Fang Jin broke the silence, “You surprised me today.”
Tan Ning couldn’t tell if her comment was positive or negative. Realizing his fingers were cold, he grew a bit anxious.
“What if I had asked you to get out?”
Tan Ning clenched his hands, took a steadying breath, and replied, “I wouldn’t leave. I’m not here to be chosen by you. I’m Lin Song’an’s boyfriend, his one and only partner.”
Fang Jin raised an eyebrow. “Don’t speak so confidently. How many people have truly unwavering relationships?”
“Is it really that hard to be unwavering? I don’t think it is.”
Fang Jin was momentarily stunned.
In his voice was the earnestness of youth. “If it’s that hard, then I’ll take the chance. Losing isn’t a big deal.”
