ATMAWTPM Chapter 32
by VolareShen Jun’s words caused Ye Tingtong to have a rare sleepless night. When he met with Yu Huanhuan the next day, his panda eyes made Yu Huanhuan laugh uncontrollably.
The two had already planned to meet, mainly because Ye Tingtong wanted to take Xue Gao out to play. It just so happened that Yu Huanhuan was also free, so she wanted to show off a bit.
But unexpectedly, last night, Shen Jun’s word “jealousy” had kept him up all night.
Fortunately, Shen Jun didn’t say anything more, leaving him ample space.
Shen Jun was always like this, very measured, yet closing in step by step, as if guiding him to recognize his own feelings.
Ye Tingtong fed Xue Gao a newly bought freeze-dried treat and hesitated, “When Shen Jun said ‘jealous,’ could he have meant I bought too many things for Xue Gao and didn’t buy any for him?”
The two were at a pet-friendly milk tea shop. Yu Huanhuan, who was originally taking pretty pictures of the cream, couldn’t help but roll her eyes upon hearing this. “If you think the idea of Shen Jun being jealous of a pet is more believable, then I have nothing to say.”
Ye Tingtong pursed his lips. “But, a person like Shen Jun, why would he like me?”
Ye Tingtong lowered his head, revealing only half of his face, yet it was still exceptionally beautiful. If the person making Ye Tingtong so heart-wrenching was Shen Minghuai, Yu Huanhuan would definitely answer without hesitation: “It’s definitely because of that face!”
After all, beauty was the biggest trump card for people like them.
However, the other party was Shen Jun. There were countless beauties throwing themselves at him in the business world, yet he had shown amazing patience and doting exclusively towards Ye Tingtong.
“Dummy.” Yu Huanhuan placed Xue Gao in his arms. “The past is the past. Now you can live a brand-new life. Why think so much?”
Building confidence was difficult, but Shen Jun was already making an effort. Even Yu Huanhuan could feel it.
That unattainable figure was doing everything he could to pave a smooth road for Ye Tingtong, but Ye Tingtong was hesitant to take the step.
However, these things were clear to her, an outsider, but Ye Tingtong might not be able to discern them.
Xue Gao saw Ye Tingtong spacing out and nudged his clothes with its nose, meowing curiously.
Ye Tingtong was just about to speak when his phone buzzed.
Yu Huanhuan felt that the previous topic was a bit heavy, so she teased with a smile, “Could it be Shen Minghuai? Be careful, your Shen boss might get jealous again.”
Ye Tingtong glanced at the sender and shook his head. “I’ve already blocked all of Shen Minghuai’s contact information.”
From the day Shen Jun said that Shen Minghuai made him feel a sense of crisis, he had done just that.
Whether Shen Minghuai had given up or something else, there were no further messages.
“That’s true.” Yu Huanhuan thought of something. “He’s been busy lately attending various social events with his father and the old lady of the Shen family, trying to build connections. It seems like he’s really planning to start a career.”
Ye Tingtong had been busy with his own things lately and probably rarely looked at his social media, but she was well-informed and had received a lot of information.
It was said that Shen Minghuai had fallen out with his own uncle, the current president of Shen Corporation, Shen Jun, in order to win back his ex-lover and was determined to fight for the family business.
However, everyone treated it as a joke. No one thought Shen Minghuai could beat Shen Jun.
Yu Huanhuan didn’t tell Ye Tingtong these things, lest he be burdened with extra worries. She smiled and asked, “If it’s not Shen Minghuai, then is it your new lover?”
“What are you talking about!” Ye Tingtong frowned. “Sister Huanhuan, don’t talk nonsense.”
That sleepless night, he thought carefully about Zhao Cheng’s attitude towards him during the day. It was indeed a bit too enthusiastic. He had never seen anyone express their love so directly. He had only thought that Zhao Cheng was naturally a warm person. But after Shen Jun’s words, he became alert.
However, given his relationship with Yu Hui and the fact that Zhao Cheng had helped him, he had no reason to delete or block him. So he transferred an 88 yuan red envelope to Zhao Cheng, and thereafter, his replies to messages were usually half an hour later.
As time passed, this person’s enthusiasm would naturally fade.
Yu Huanhuan raised an eyebrow after hearing his explanation. “You’re so decisive with your feelings for others, so why are you so wishy-washy with Shen Jun?”
She coughed and her tone suddenly became serious. “Shen Jun’s straight-ball approach is also quite annoying. If you don’t like it, just ignore Shen Jun like you deal with those little love interests, isn’t that right?”
“Is Shen Jun also constantly sending you messages to harass you?” Yu Huanhuan pretended to reach for his phone. “Wait, I’ll help you block him.”
Ye Tingtong immediately became anxious and quickly snatched his phone back. His voice was loud, “No! Shen Jun is different!”
Yu Huanhuan said meaningfully, “How is he different?”
Ye Tingtong would be truly dumb if he couldn’t tell that Yu Huanhuan was teasing him. “He just is different.”
Shen Jun was Shen Jun, different from anyone else.
His phone buzzed again. This time it was a text message—a bank transfer notification.
It was the end of the month, and the 100,000 yuan was transferred to his account as usual.
Shen Jun had already transferred 300,000 yuan, but he no longer felt the initial joy. He even felt a bit like running away.
Clearly, he liked money so much. Before, he dreamed every day of saving enough money to buy a small apartment, find an ordinary job, and live his own life.
But now, this large sum of money clearly told him that he and Shen Jun were just in a contractual marriage, with no feelings involved. Shen Jun could terminate the contract and abandon him at any time.
Ye Tingtong felt like he was trapped in a dead end. He sniffled. “Sister Huanhuan, I don’t know what to do…”
Yu Huanhuan had also seen the money transfer and knew its significance. She sighed. “You silly boy, why are you so stubborn?”
“So what if it’s a contractual marriage? Hasn’t your goal always been to maintain your relationship and this marriage? Why are you now only thinking negatively that Shen Jun will definitely dislike you, planning for the worst outcomes?”
Although living in the moment was a luxury for them, she still hoped that Ye Tingtong could think more about himself.
“What you should be doing is trying your best to get along with him. No matter what the other person thinks in the end, just do what you want to do, understand?”
It wasn’t that Ye Tingtong didn’t understand this, but, from some point on, his mindset had changed from taking advantage of Shen Jun to hoping that Shen Jun was okay and wouldn’t be dragged down by him.
Nor should he like someone as useless as himself.
Ye Tingtong couldn’t temporarily escape the pressure and pessimistic ideas he had imposed on himself.
After parting with Yu Huanhuan, Ye Tingtong was picked up by Shen Jun’s driver. In the car, the driver kept looking at the rearview mirror, an unusual action that attracted Ye Tingtong’s attention. “What’s wrong?”
The driver replied, “Someone is following us.”
At the next traffic light, the driver accelerated and shook them off.
After Ye Tingtong returned home, he told Shen Jun about it and asked, “Is it someone from the Ye family?”
Shen Jun first called the driver to confirm the details and, after hanging up, replied, “It’s not certain, but you still need to be careful recently.”
The Ye family was also reaching its end. He thought they would retaliate against him, but he didn’t expect that they were targeting Ye Tingtong first.
Shen Jun thought for a moment. “If possible, try to stay home this week.”
Since the Ye family wanted to fight back, he didn’t mind suppressing them completely within a week, and the security measures at Taizi Bay were sufficient to ensure Ye Tingtong’s safety.
But after he finished speaking, Ye Tingtong’s expression was hesitant.
“What’s wrong?”
“I promised the owner of the dessert shop that I would help him for a few more days after the sixth day of the new year.”
Because the pay was very generous, Ye Tingtong had immediately agreed.
Ye Tingtong gritted his teeth. “If it’s dangerous, I’ll refuse it.”
He knew the priorities.
Seeing his pained expression, Shen Jun changed his mind. “It’s not that serious. Just have the driver pick you up and drop you off, and don’t go wandering around.”
At worst, he would just find more bodyguards to follow him secretly.
Ye Tingtong was overjoyed and excitedly grabbed the hem of Shen Jun’s clothes. “Really? Then I’ll go report for duty the day after tomorrow!”
The force of the downward pull on his clothes was very obvious. Shen Jun lowered his head, and Ye Tingtong froze for a moment. His fingers instinctively wanted to let go, but for some unknown reason, he suddenly tightened his grip, not caring that he was wrinkling the other’s clothes.
Shen Jun watched his awkward and clumsy reaction and patted his head. “Go if you want to. It’s okay.”
Anyway, he would handle everything.
Only then did Ye Tingtong pretend to let go naturally. He bent down and picked up Xue Gao. “After I go to work, you have to be good at home too. I’ll put your snacks out in advance, but if you eat them all at once, no one will give you any more.”
“You have to manage your portions reasonably, you know?”
Ye Tingtong was earnestly giving the cat instructions, and the cat actually responded, extending a paw to pat his face, as if it was making a promise.
Shen Jun looked at the man and the cat before him, no longer regretting that Ye Tingtong had not responded to him directly.
Anyway, he had plenty of time.
*
The business at the dessert shop was booming after the new year. There were many more dine-in customers than before, and coupled with deliveries, they were extremely busy. They only had a short break before the end of their shifts.
His colleagues were still very considerate of Ye Tingtong, trying to assign him easier tasks. However, because of his good looks, many customers took the initiative to start conversations with Ye Tingtong, making him feel dry-mouthed from just introducing the products.
He had just taken a break to drink some water when the shop owner called out, “Tingtong, someone is looking for you at the front desk.”
He thought it was a regular customer, and immediately put on a smile to greet them. When he saw Zhao Cheng’s face, which was smiling even wider than his, his expression twisted for a moment.
Zhao Cheng greeted him happily, “I heard from my brother that you’re working here part-time, so I came to show my support! I didn’t expect it to be so busy!”
However, he didn’t want to cause trouble for Ye Tingtong. “Don’t worry about me. I’m just here out of curiosity. I’ll just order something normally. You can go about your business!”
After he finished speaking, Ye Tingtong immediately turned around and served other customers. His ruthless and cold behavior made Zhao Cheng scratch his nose awkwardly.
Yu Hui received his dejected message and replied.
[Yu Hui: I told you that Tongzai isn’t interested in you, and yet you still pestered me for the address of the dessert shop. I’m starting to find you annoying.]
Ye Tingtong’s cold treatment of Zhao Cheng was obvious, but Zhao Cheng was still not giving up.
[Zhao Cheng: Don’t be a downer! We’ve only known each other for one day! What’s wrong with me trying a little? And, the person who picked him up before should be his brother, right?]
[Yu Hui: I’m not sure about that. I just feel that Tongzai’s attitude towards him is quite unique.]
Even during the time when Ye Tingtong and Shen Minghuai had the best relationship, he had never been that attentive.
Zhao Cheng sullenly put his phone back into his pocket. Because the colleagues knew that Zhao Cheng and Ye Tingtong were acquainted, they specifically had Ye Tingtong deliver Zhao Cheng’s second order. “It’s quiet now. Chat with your friend for a bit, consider it your lunch break.”
Despite his helplessness, Ye Tingtong couldn’t refuse the valuable rest time, so he went with the plate. “Here’s the cappuccino you ordered.”
Zhao Cheng immediately pulled out the chair opposite him. “Didn’t your shop owner say that you’re taking a break? You should sit for a while.”
Ye Tingtong didn’t refuse. His back and legs were aching, and he desperately needed a rest.
The moment he touched the stool, Ye Tingtong felt like his butt and back had developed some sort of chemical reaction with it, sticking together.
However, the person opposite him made him feel like he wasn’t that tired.
He checked his phone.
In just five minutes, he could be fully recharged!
Zhao Cheng considerately handed his cappuccino to Ye Tingtong. “Do you want to drink some?”
Ye Tingtong shook his head. “We have a rule that we can’t eat customers’ food.”
Zhao Cheng was rejected but didn’t mind at all. “When do you get off work? I know a new escape room game just came out nearby. Do you want to go play? If you’re too tired to move, we can just have a simple meal together.”
Ye Tingtong had been massaging his neck, but upon hearing this, he raised his head to look at Zhao Cheng.
The other person’s pursuit was already very obvious at this point, and he suddenly became very curious. “Why do you like me?”
Zhao Cheng was caught off guard by this direct question. The 1.8-meter-tall man’s ears turned red. He scratched his head. “I can’t really explain it, I just like you a lot.”
Despite the vague answer, Zhao Cheng’s gaze didn’t waver, clearly telling Ye Tingtong that he wasn’t joking around.
Ye Tingtong felt that it was shameless of him to use the other person’s feelings as a way to solve a problem. He lowered his eyes. “I’m sorry, but I can’t reciprocate your feelings.”
This rejection was ruthless.
Zhao Cheng’s face visibly wilted. “I actually guessed it. Is it because of the person who picked you up?”
The auras between rivals were always sensitive and conflicting.
Ye Tingtong didn’t answer directly. “I’ll give you a plate of our shop’s signature dessert later. Can you answer another question for me?”
Zhao Cheng sighed and took a sip of his coffee. “Ask away.”
Ye Tingtong straightened his back and said seriously, “Why can you express your love so directly and frankly?”
Zhao Cheng was a little confused. “Why can’t I?”
“But we’ve only known each other for a day. We don’t know anything about each other—family background, parents, personality, many, many things. What if we’re not suitable?”
“I like you, so I pursue you. It’s a very natural reaction. I didn’t think so much.”
Zhao Cheng looked at Ye Tingtong, who was wearing his uniform with a confused expression, and remembered the man in branded clothes and luxury car from before, and he suddenly understood something.
He thought Ye Tingtong was working part-time to experience life.
Zhao Cheng felt a sour, bitter taste in his heart like a grapefruit.
Was that person really that good? Making Ye Tingtong so troubled, yet still tirelessly searching for answers, wanting to get closer to him.
He really wanted to mischievously mislead Ye Tingtong, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He finished his coffee in one gulp. “At first, I thought your family was very rich, but I didn’t think much of it. When you’re in love, the key thing is the mutual transfer of emotional value, not financial gain. I’m confident that I can make you happy, and of course, I also hope you can give me a little love in return.”
“Looking further ahead, if we get married in the future, I will also work hard and give you the best I can.”
He saw that Ye Tingtong wanted to speak, so he interrupted him in advance. “I know what you want to say, but since you can get married, it proves that the other person doesn’t care about those things. I just need to give my greatest love, and we can live happily together.”
Ye Tingtong was stunned for a moment. He was indeed too concerned about the equal monetary value between him and Shen Jun, wanting to prove that he wasn’t after the other’s money. But many times, he had taken advantage of Shen Jun. He might not have thought much about it at the time, but during every sleepless night, these things would surge up, turning into chains that bound him.
“Then… what if the two people were wrong from the start?”
His relationship with Shen Jun wasn’t a normal, beautiful start.
The two of them had married for benefit, and his bank card was still receiving Shen Jun’s “salary” on a regular basis.
Many times, he wished he was an ordinary college student, who had accidentally met Shen Jun, and they had become attracted to each other. Even if there was still a gap in their identities, it wouldn’t make him so troubled.
“Then try to correct it. I believe that as long as it’s not a fatal mistake, as long as you’re willing, you can save it.”
After Zhao Cheng finished speaking, the five-minute alarm that Ye Tingtong had set for himself went off.
Zhao Cheng also didn’t expect that the longest conversation he had with Ye Tingtong would be about teaching him how to love. He was just about to speak, but turned his head and suddenly saw a car parked on the street outside the dessert shop.
It looked familiar.
Zhao Cheng’s eyes flickered, and he put on his previous cheerful smile. “However, I think you can still consider me again.”
“No need for the signature dessert!” He reached out and ruffled Ye Tingtong’s hair. “Consider this my payment. See you around, if fate allows.”
After speaking, he turned and left without regard for Ye Tingtong’s wide eyes.
On the other side, inside the car outside the milk tea shop.
Yu Mo was mercilessly mocking Shen Jun. “Is this the dessert shop you said you wanted to invite me to for business? Are we still going?”
“Bro, your wife is about to be stolen, and you’re still thinking about discussing business with me? Seriously, can you change your old-fashioned way of showing affection? Learn from the college students, make a big move—”
Before Yu Mo could finish speaking, he was pulled out of the passenger seat. “We can talk about business another day. I have something to do.”
Yu Mo, wearing a flashy and thin suit, was directly abandoned on the street. In the cold winter, passers-by looked at him as if he were crazy.
He watched Shen Jun’s back as he entered the milk tea shop, furious. “Shen Jun, you ungrateful bastard!”
He used him as an excuse to chase after someone and then kicked him away when he was no longer needed.
However, he didn’t want to interfere with the man’s pursuit of his wife. He sneezed in the cold wind, hailed a taxi, and left grumbling.
Ye Tingtong had just put on his work cap and stood up when he heard the sound of the door opening. He subconsciously raised his head. “Welcome to—”
The last word stopped abruptly when he saw the person in front of him. “Shen Jun?”
At this time, shouldn’t Shen Jun be working in his office?
“I just finished some work and happened to be passing by.” Shen Jun sat down in the seat where Zhao Cheng had been sitting. “When do you get off work?”
Upon hearing this, Ye Tingtong trotted back to ask the shop owner, “Um, can I leave on time today? Something came up.”
The shop owner waved his hand. “Sure, go ahead.”
Ye Tingtong came back to report to Shen Jun, “I get off work at five. Just two more hours to go.”
Shen Jun hummed in response. “Give me an Americano.”
Ye Tingtong subconsciously asked, “Three parts sugar?”
Because he loved sweets and often drank milk tea and coffee with Shen Jun, Shen Jun had also begun to get used to adding a little sugar.
Shen Jun put down the menu and said in a light voice, “No sugar.”
Despite his confusion, Ye Tingtong recorded it truthfully. He was just about to leave when Shen Jun pointed to his hat. “It’s a little crooked.”
Ye Tingtong adjusted it.
Shen Jun: “It’s more crooked. Do you want me to help you?”
Ye Tingtong was a little embarrassed. “It doesn’t look good…”
Just like how he had refused to drink the coffee that Zhao Cheng had offered him, it was against the rules for an employee to interact with someone they knew personally inside the store.
However, the shop owner didn’t mind at all and hid behind the display case to watch with the other colleagues.
Ye Tingtong’s face became even more flushed. He quickly lowered his head. “Please help me, quickly.”
The hat on his head was finally put on properly. Ye Tingtong took advantage of the situation and leaned close to his ear, covering his mouth and whispering, “Are you really sure you don’t want any sugar? Our Americano is very bitter.”
Although it wasn’t good to say it like this, the shop owner always said that their coffee was authentic that way and so bitter that there were no repeat customers.
Just thinking about it made Ye Tingtong frown.
Afraid of being heard, Ye Tingtong was very close. His light breathing brushed against Shen Jun, completely different from the distance and propriety he had with Zhao Cheng in the store earlier.
The sourness in Shen Jun’s heart gradually dissipated. He paused, but still changed his mind. “I’ll listen to you, then.”
“Three parts sugar.”