Chapter 54
Fang Jin dropped Tan Ning off at the entrance of Tianhe Villa.
They hadn’t spoken much on the way, and an awkward silence filled the car. Before getting out, Tan Ning debated whether to invite Fang Jin for dinner—it seemed polite. But this was Lin Song’an’s home, and he wasn’t there. Just as he was weighing the idea, Fang Jin said, “I have a dinner engagement tonight.”
Not knowing if it was true or just an excuse, Tan Ning nodded. As he got out of the car, he said, “Thank you, Auntie.”
Both of them seemed slightly uncomfortable.
Watching her car drive off, Tan Ning felt a bit melancholic. If he were more polite, more at ease with social interactions, he might have invited her with ease: “Auntie, would you like to stay for dinner? I know how to cook lots of dishes.” But his words had a way of getting stuck at crucial moments.
As he got inside, Lin Song’an’s call came in. “Ning Ning, were you busy today?”
“Lin Song’an.”
“Hmm?”
“You made a mistake,” Tan Ning said stiffly.
Lin Song’an paused, confused. “What?”
“You didn’t make things clear with Yan Zhiyu. He came to find me today.”
Lin Song’an’s tone became immediately tense and serious. “What did he say?”
“He said he’s been troubled ever since that incident with the pheromones. He can’t forget it, and he’s miserable.”
Lin Song’an’s voice was filled with frustration. “What’s wrong with him?”
“But he didn’t say anything too harsh. I wasn’t all that angry.” Just a bit confused, Tan Ning thought. Whenever they talk about pheromones, I feel like an outsider.
“Ning Ning,” Lin Song’an said after a pause, “I’ll talk to him and make it clear.”
Lin Song’an wouldn’t be back until the day after tomorrow. That night, Tan Ning read for a while before going to bed around eleven. He kept checking his phone until almost midnight, waiting for a video call invitation that never came.
Was Lin Song’an feeling guilty because of what he’d said? Too hesitant to reach out to him?
“Was I too harsh today?” Tan Ning muttered to himself, staring at the ceiling. “I didn’t mean to scold you. I just didn’t know how else to start the conversation. Why are you suddenly ignoring me?”
Late that night, he sighed, wishing his words were kinder.
Then maybe they’d stay with me.
Clutching his phone, he drifted to sleep, only to wake up at eight the next morning, nearly late for work.
Rushing out of the elevator and into the legal department, he ran into Manager Liu, who was coming out of the break room with a fresh cup of coffee. She nearly spilled it, her expression souring when she saw him. She still couldn’t understand why Fang Jin would favor Tan Ning when they barely knew each other.
She gave him half an hour to review two bilingual contracts. Although the task interested him, the deadline was tight and barely feasible.
He worked intently, not distracted for even a second, but hadn’t started the second contract by the time Manager Liu came to check.
Seizing the opportunity, she launched into a string of sarcastic remarks. Tang Tang sighed helplessly from nearby.
Just then, Fang Jin knocked on the door, her presence cutting off Manager Liu mid-rant.
Turning around in annoyance, Manager Liu’s face changed instantly when she met Fang Jin’s gaze. She went over with a forced smile.
“Ms. Fang, what brings you here?”
Fang Jin’s expression remained neutral, though her gaze had cooled. “Manager Liu, come with me for a moment.”
Manager Liu froze.
As soon as she left with Fang Jin, the others in the office swarmed around Tan Ning, eager to ask, “What’s going on between you and Ms. Fang? Why is she standing up for you?”
Tan Ning shook his head.
Their curiosity grew, but it was clear Tan Ning wasn’t interested in talking. Keeping his head down, he returned to his book. Tang Tang, who had a better understanding of his personality, motioned for the others to disperse.
But around noon, just as everyone was ordering lunch, Fang Jin reappeared.
She knocked and entered, looking directly at Tan Ning. “Tan Ning, grab your bag and come with me.”
Tang Tang’s first thought was: Is Tan Ning getting fired?
Her second thought was: No, there must be something unusual going on between him and Ms. Fang!
Her third thought was: Thank goodness I didn’t side with Manager Liu against him.
Tan Ning walked toward Fang Jin under everyone’s curious gaze. When they reached the elevator, she handed him a piece of paper. “Here’s your internship certificate, signed and stamped. No need to come back—it’s just a waste of time.”
Tan Ning looked at his certificate, where Fang Jin had filled in the evaluation section herself. Her handwriting was sharp and decisive. Although she’d written typical comments about his “diligent work and eagerness to learn,” he still accepted it with a smile.
“Thank you, Auntie.”
“This morning, Yan Zhiyu’s mother called me. She said he cried all night when he got home, feeling like he’d done something terribly wrong and apologizing to you.”
Tan Ning frowned.
“Yan Zhiyu will be returning to Germany next week. He wants to formally apologize before he leaves.”
“Where are we going?”
“To his home.”
Tan Ning was baffled.
“If you don’t want to go, I’ll just decline.”
“It’s okay,” he replied.
Fang Jin looked at him. “Why?”
“Better to settle things once and for all. I don’t want this issue hanging over me anymore.”
“Then let’s go.”
“Auntie.” As they exited the elevator, Tan Ning stopped her.
Fang Jin paused, looking back at him.
“Is this also some kind of test for me?”
“No,” she replied. “I just think that after his sudden intrusion yesterday, you deserve a formal apology.”
Surprised, Tan Ning watched her walk toward the parking lot. He hurried to catch up, a sudden warmth lifting his spirits, his backpack bouncing with his steps. Noticing him in her peripheral vision, Fang Jin couldn’t help but smile slightly.
They arrived at the Yan family home.
Mr. and Mrs. Yan were waiting in the courtyard. Seeing Fang Jin with Tan Ning, they immediately came forward. “Ms. Fang, it’s been too long.”
Fang Jin nodded. “Yes, it has.”
“And this must be young Tan Ning. Please, come in. The meal is ready.”
As soon as they stepped inside, Yan Zhiyu came out from behind his parents, bowing his head as he said to Tan Ning, “I’m sorry. I was out of line yesterday. I said things I shouldn’t have. I apologize.”
Unsure how to respond, Tan Ning looked to Fang Jin, who broke the tension. “Mrs. Yan, could you get me a glass of water? I’m a bit thirsty.”
Instinctively, Tan Ning moved to stand behind Fang Jin.
This was a completely unfamiliar environment for him. With Lin Song’an away, Fang Jin was his sole source of security.
Mrs. Yan quickly brought Fang Jin a glass of water, and they all sat down for lunch. As Fang Jin and Mr. Yan discussed business, Tan Ning quietly ate beside them.
After drinking some red wine, Yan Zhiyu became slightly tipsy. Near the end of the meal, he led Tan Ning to the sofa, his eyes unfocused as he murmured, “I don’t know why I said those things yesterday.”
Tan Ning remained silent.
“Lin Song’an called me. He said that pheromone compatibility can be overcome. If he can, then so can I.”
“I’ve never been in a relationship. My parents have always controlled everything about my life, even choosing my partner.”
“My mom says this was just a mistake, and she’ll find me someone better suited.”
“But I don’t like it when they do that.”
“What happened with Lin Song’an…it hurt my pride.”
“At first, they told me it was up to me. They even showed me Lin Song’an’s picture to see if I liked him. But in the end, it turned out like this, as if I were the one clinging on.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong.”
As he spoke, Yan Zhiyu started to cry. He hugged himself and slowly sank down, sobbing. Tan Ning had no idea how to respond to his apology.
Noticing their son in tears, Mr. and Mrs. Yan hurried over, each comforting him from one side. Tan Ning took a step back.
“Zhiyu, don’t cry,” Mrs. Yan soothed him, wiping his tears. “Tell Mom what’s wrong.”
Mr. Yan put an arm around him, saying, “Real men don’t cry.”
Tan Ning quietly left the living room and stepped into the courtyard, watching the scene through the glass doors.
It was such a harmonious image.
Yan Zhiyu, at twenty-two, was already an independent adult, yet he was still the apple of his parents’ eye, treated like a cherished child. He had a mother to wipe away his tears, a father to defend him. The Yan family sat close together on the couch, forgetting the guest nearby, their world revolving around their son.
At twenty-two, Tan Ning felt like a stray cat, peering through the glass at a family warmth he had never known.
Saying he didn’t envy it would be a lie.
He did envy it. The kids whose parents rode electric bikes to pick them up from school, the classmates who ran into their mother’s arms after class, the little gifts they got for a job well done…he envied them all.
When he broke up with Lin Song’an two years ago, crying alone in the dark until he was sick, he had whispered to himself, Mom, why doesn’t anyone want me?
Actually, I don’t want to be a stray cat at all, he thought. It’s not cool at all.
Just then, he heard the sound of a familiar car engine shutting off nearby.
Holding back tears, he listened carefully.
It was the sound of Lin Song’an’s Land Rover parking. He walked toward the sound and saw Lin Song’an standing by the car.
Not far away, Lin Song’an stood tall in the black coat Tan Ning had picked for him, looking elegant and refined. He smiled and opened his arms.
Tan Ning ran over, throwing himself into Lin Song’an’s embrace.
“During my meeting, I suddenly felt uneasy, like something was wrong. I booked the first flight back.”
“Nothing matters more than you, Ning Ning.”
Burrowing his face in Lin Song’an’s shoulder, Tan Ning began to cry.
Lin Song’an kissed the top of his head. “I missed you so much.”
Clinging to him, Tan Ning refused to let go. Lin Song’an looked toward the house, glimpsing the family of three inside. Not knowing the reason for Tan Ning’s tears, he assumed it was about his beta status and the pheromone compatibility issue.
There was only one way to fix that.
He held Tan Ning tightly, exhaling deeply, as if finally making up his mind. In a low voice close to Tan Ning’s ear, he said, “Ning Ning, you don’t know how much I adore you.”
Tan Ning looked up, dazed, meeting Lin Song’an’s eyes. Lin Song’an brushed back the tear-dampened hair from Tan Ning’s face, his smile gentle.
“You’re the most important thing to me, Ning Ning.”
