The Unattainable Flower Pulled Down from the Pedestal by Universal Dislike – CH66

Chapter 66 (Extra)

Tan Ning left the law firm and drove back to Fang Jin’s house. Fang Jin was reading documents, but upon hearing his footsteps, she looked up, smiling, “Ning Ning, you’re here.”

Tan Ning had brought a bouquet of flowers and a pair of scissors. As they chatted, he trimmed the stems; he’d noticed a few days ago that the flowers in the vase beside her desk were wilting, and he’d made a mental note of it. “It seems these peach champagne roses are quite popular this year. They’re called ‘Peach Snow Mountain’ roses.”

“They’d look great with some white lisianthus,” Fang Jin suggested, admiring them.

Tan Ning glanced up with a smile. “They would. You have such an eye, Mom. I’ll bring a few more white lisianthus tomorrow.”

“Is it busy at the firm these days?” Fang Jin asked, setting down her glasses.

“Busy, lots of cases.”

“Even non-litigation cases?”

“Yes, those too, and they’re often really complex.”

“How’s it going with your colleagues? You mentioned before that one of the senior lawyers had been giving you a hard time.”

“It’s much better now. I handled it the way you suggested. I stood my ground while giving him space to shine. I’d let him take the lead in meetings, and eventually, he wasn’t so hostile.”

“Some people aren’t really bad; they just need approval and recognition. Since you’re around colleagues every day, there’s no need to let things get tense. Complimenting him a bit won’t hurt you if it doesn’t compromise your own interests.”

“True.”

“You’ve grown a lot since starting work.”

Tan Ning accepted the compliment, “I think so, too.”

“When you applied to this law firm, Song’an was all set to call the senior partner and ask him to watch out for you, maybe even pair you with someone friendly. I stopped him. I said, ‘If Ning Ning wants to be a lawyer, he’ll need social skills, and he has to clear that hurdle himself.'”

Tan Ning smiled.

“We expected it to take at least a year or so, but you settled in within just a few months.”

“That’s because it wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk to people before—it’s that I was afraid of being rejected. Now, with confidence, nothing scares me.”

“And what’s your confidence now?”

After a pause, Tan Ning replied, with a gentle smile, “Song’an, you, and myself.”

Fang Jin nodded with satisfaction. “You’ve really grown up.”

Just then, footsteps sounded from downstairs, and the housekeeper’s voice drifted up, “Madam Fang is upstairs, and Xiao Ning is here too.”

There was no need to guess who it was.

Tan Ning’s eyelashes quivered as he pretended to stay calm, arranging the flowers with half his face hidden behind the peach-colored roses. A few strands of hair fell around his face, gently curling against the rose stems, concealing his expression.

Fang Jin knew they were in a bit of a cold war.

With Tan Ning’s increasingly busy schedule, he often had to go on business trips with colleagues. At the firm, there was a young lawyer a few years his senior named Yan Wenqing, who had a similar overseas education background and shared common interests with him. A few days ago, Lin Song’an had been waiting for Tan Ning to get off work outside the law firm, and after waiting for a while without seeing him, he went inside to check. There, he saw Yan Wenqing standing by Tan Ning’s desk, pointing at Tan Ning’s screen, leaning in, and the two of them deep in conversation.

Since starting work, Tan Ning couldn’t exactly wear those drab, oversized clothes anymore, so Lin Song’an had Tan Ning fitted for a few tailored, casual suits. As it turned out, Tan Ning looked perfect in silky white shirts with a draped, soft fabric. He was slim but well-proportioned, and with the top button undone, his long neck, from his Adam’s apple to his collarbone, was exposed, giving off a subtle, natural allure. Coupled with his warm yet distant amber eyes, his long hair added a touch of refined coolness—captivating without even realizing it.

Lin Song’an’s jealousy flared up instantly.

They had been married for four months, and three months earlier, Tan Ning had started working at the firm. Busy days often stretched to nine at night. Lin Song’an’s business obligations didn’t align, and when they were finally home together, there wasn’t much time for intimacy.

Driven by a need to be close to him again, Lin Song’an canceled three days’ worth of meetings to make time for Tan Ning, but Tan Ning hardly seemed interested.

That evening, as Lin Song’an waited outside the firm, he overheard Tan Ning and Yan Wenqing chatting and laughing over a case. After about ten minutes, Tan Ning finally came out, with Yan Wenqing following behind and asking, “Xiao Tan, how are you getting home?”

Tan Ning looked up and saw Lin Song’an, pausing in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

Lin Song’an extended his hand.

With someone else around, Tan Ning didn’t take it.

Yan Wenqing walked up, and Tan Ning went to introduce Lin Song’an, “This is my—”

But he stalled over the title.

They had already discussed this point more than once. Before they were even married, Tan Ning had already started calling Fang Jin “Mom.” But four months into their marriage, Tan Ning had only referred to Lin Song’an as “husband” about five times, let alone voluntarily introducing him as “my husband.”

When Yan Wenqing walked over and saw Lin Song’an, he paused. Yan Wenqing generally didn’t pry into colleagues’ personal lives, but he’d heard that Tan Ning’s partner was an alpha who had removed his glands. At first, he felt bad for Tan Ning, thinking his partner must be weak and lacking. But the man before him, broad-shouldered, well-built, and strikingly handsome, seemed to still exude the presence of a top-tier alpha, even casting an intimidating gaze his way.

How was it possible? He wasn’t a top-tier alpha anymore.

“And you are?” Lin Song’an pulled Tan Ning closer.

“Lawyer Yan. We’re both working on the Jiaron Tech project.”

Lin Song’an extended his hand to Yan Wenqing. “Hello, Lawyer Yan. I’m Tan Ning’s husband, Lin Song’an.”

Yan Wenqing responded with an awkward smile, “Mr. Lin of Tianhe Group—your reputation precedes you.”

Lin Song’an withdrew his hand, and in front of Yan Wenqing, placed his hand on Tan Ning’s waist, his possessiveness unmistakable. He said to Tan Ning, “Let’s go home.”

Tan Ning looked at him but said nothing.

In the car, after watching Yan Wenqing’s car leave the parking lot, Tan Ning gradually realized something was off with Lin Song’an’s mood. He asked, “What’s wrong?”

“If I didn’t tell you, could you guess?”

Tan Ning thought he was being immature.

Once they were home, Lin Song’an closed the door and immediately pressed Tan Ning against it. “Have you guessed?”

Tan Ning said nothing, so Lin Song’an leaned in and kissed him, the tension gradually heating up. Tan Ning felt dazed, all the day’s exhaustion melting away. Always one to respond to kindness, his mood lightened, and he kept his face serious, saying, “Everyone knows you in Ningjiang—what’s the point of introducing you?”

“Don’t change the subject.”

Tan Ning muttered, “Where is it written in the law that you have to constantly talk about your husband just because you’re married?”

“I’m not asking you to constantly mention me—just in that moment at the firm entrance. Shouldn’t you have said something?”

“Why should I?” Tan Ning sighed, exhausted. “Why is it that, to you, everyone seems to like me? Do you not trust me, or do you not trust yourself?”

“Because you’re always so dismissive with me. In a couple more years, we’ll be approaching the seven-year itch.”

“Then let’s deal with the seven-year itch when it gets here.”

Tan Ning tried to leave, but Lin Song’an’s arms held him captive. Lin Song’an looked at him intently, “Do you really find me clingy?”

“Yes.”

“Fine, then I won’t cling to you.” Lin Song’an released him abruptly. Tan Ning staggered slightly as Lin Song’an turned and walked into the bedroom.

From that day on, Lin Song’an initiated a one-sided cold war.

At first, Tan Ning didn’t think much of it. After all, Lin Song’an had sworn off being clingy countless times before and had never lasted longer than half a day. But this time, to his surprise, Lin Song’an kept it up for three full days.

Over the past three days, Lin Song’an treated Tan Ning with the same calculated indifference he’d shown back when they were just “friends with benefits.” His tone was sarcastic and distant, though he still picked Tan Ning up for work, made varied dishes for him, and dropped him off as usual—just without actually engaging with him.

Tan Ning sighed to himself, finding Lin Song’an’s behavior somewhat childish.

“What’s he being all sensitive about now?” Fang Jin’s voice pulled him from his thoughts, and Tan Ning smiled, saying, “He said that since I don’t like how clingy he is, he’s never going to cling to me again.”

Fang Jin chuckled, and Lin Song’an’s footsteps approached.

Lin Song’an didn’t come in, though; he just leaned against the doorway of the study and asked Fang Jin, “Mom, what’s for lunch?”

He was looking at Tan Ning, and Fang Jin could tell he was just making up an excuse to talk. She rose, leaving space for them. “I’ll go check.”

Once she’d gone downstairs, Lin Song’an stayed by the doorway, while Tan Ning had his back to him, trimming flower stems. When he was finished, he arranged them slowly, one by one, into the vase.

As he gathered the withered bouquet to throw it out, he headed toward the doorway. Lin Song’an was blocking half of it, and even trying to slip past him sideways didn’t work. Tan Ning stopped.

He didn’t say anything, not even “Excuse me,” nor did he make any move toward reconciliation; both of them were being stubborn.

Lin Song’an was childish, and Tan Ning was willing to indulge him.

In the end, Lin Song’an moved aside first. As Tan Ning passed by with the flowers, some dried petals fell and landed on the button of Lin Song’an’s suit, precariously clinging. Both reached for the petal at the same time—Tan Ning caught it, while Lin Song’an’s hand covered his.

Tan Ning held his breath at this first intimate contact in days, feeling a bit nervous, with a faint warmth spreading in his ears.

After throwing the petal aside, he held Lin Song’an’s hand in return, a clear gesture of reconciliation. But Lin Song’an wasn’t about to make things easy. With an indignant look, he pulled his hand back as if Tan Ning had somehow bothered him and then turned and strode downstairs without a backward glance.

Tan Ning crouched down to pick up the petal and muttered, “Fine, I’ll see how long you can keep this up.”

After lunch at Fang Jin’s house, Fang Jin kept him for a bit to chat.

Lin Song’an was in the living room, taking a call.

After a sip of tea, Tan Ning asked, “Mom, am I being too much?”

“No, at most a little spoiled by all the love,” Fang Jin replied with a chuckle.

Tan Ning pursed his lips. He knew he was.

Back home, feeling warm and sweaty, Tan Ning headed to the bathroom for a shower.

Lin Song’an lay on the bed scrolling through his phone. A few minutes later, he heard Tan Ning call for him. Lin Song’an immediately put his phone down and headed over, opening the bathroom door to be greeted by a steamy mist. Tan Ning’s body was like a hazy painting.

Lin Song’an forgot their cold war entirely, his mind now only on concern. “What’s wrong?”

“The water’s not coming out,” Tan Ning said.

Lin Song’an hurried forward, worried Tan Ning might catch a chill. Tan Ning, bare, with water droplets still clinging to his pale skin, held the showerhead in his hand, his gaze lowered, looking like a little drenched cat awaiting rescue.

Lin Song’an’s Adam’s apple moved reflexively. He looked away and wrapped a towel around Tan Ning’s shoulders.

But Tan Ning caught his hand.

His slender fingers, slightly cool, rested on Lin Song’an’s hand. Lin Song’an finally looked directly at him as Tan Ning rose on tiptoes, trying to kiss his cheek. But Lin Song’an didn’t cooperate; he straightened, making himself unreachable.

Lin Song’an had never turned him down like this before. Tan Ning’s expression quickly cooled. “Lin Song’an, how long are you going to keep this up?”

Tan Ning had never met anyone more prone to jealousy, yet at the same time, his frustration was tinged with comfort. He liked Lin Song’an’s possessiveness—it made him feel cherished and deeply valued.

Lin Song’an didn’t respond, focusing instead on checking the water. Just as he touched the switch, Tan Ning slapped his hand away.

Lin Song’an secured the towel around Tan Ning more snugly and said in a hoarse voice, “Don’t catch a cold.”

But in the next instant, Tan Ning tossed the towel into the laundry bin, turned on the water, and aimed the showerhead at Lin Song’an’s pants, drenching them completely.

Lin Song’an barely had time to react before Tan Ning said, “Take them off.”