A Single Father’s Troubles - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Dinner

In the hallway.

Lin Tingwan was holding a mountain-high stack of folders, struggling to shift part of them into his arms, when the phone in his right pocket vibrated. He stopped against the wall, laboriously turning sideways to fish out his phone. Catching a glimpse of Kuang Ye’s reply, he let out a sigh.

He continued walking forward with the folders; the mountain of paper blocked his view, and because he was somewhat distracted, he accidentally crashed straight into someone. The folders scattered all over the floor with a loud clatter.

Just as he was about to fall, a pair of powerful hands firmly supported his forearms. Lin Tingwan tumbled into a chest, and the unfamiliar scent of a man’s cologne filled his nose. Before he could react, his forehead slammed straight into the other person’s brooch, sending a jolt of burning pain through him.

Lin Tingwan raised his hand to cover his forehead, his features twisting slightly from the pain.

“Are you okay?”

He shook his dizzy head and recognized Pei Shaoyu’s voice. Realizing what had happened, he hurriedly pushed against Pei Shaoyu’s chest to get out of his embrace, took a large step back, and apologized repeatedly, “I’m sorry, President Pei. I was lost in thought and didn’t watch where I was going, so I ran into you.”

“I’m fine.” Pei Shaoyu’s gaze fell on Lin Tingwan’s forehead; a small area above his brow bone had swollen up, looking glaringly red.

“It’s swollen here from the hit.”

Lin Tingwan raised his hand to touch it, and sure enough, he felt a lump. He hissed through his teeth and said, “It’s nothing, I’ll just go apply some medicine later and it’ll be fine.”

As he spoke, he bent down and began picking up the scattered documents.

Another well-defined hand appeared in his field of vision to help clean up. Lin Tingwan shouted hurriedly, “President Pei, I can do it myself!”

Pei Shaoyu had long arms and gathered the documents in no time. He stood up, dusting off his hands, his gaze sweeping over Lin Tingwan’s swollen forehead. His brow furrowed imperceptibly. “Xiao Lin, wait for me here a moment.”

Lin Tingwan stood obediently in place.

Pei Shaoyu returned quickly and handed something to Lin Tingwan. Looking down, he saw it was a tube of ointment, still sealed in its box.

Lin Tingwan stared blankly at Pei Shaoyu.

“It’s for swelling and pain relief. It shouldn’t be expired.”

“Ah, no need, this will go down very quickly.” Lin Tingwan gave Pei Shaoyu a grateful smile, thinking to himself: President Pei really is a good leader!

Lin Tingwan caught a glimpse of the time from the corner of his eye and let out an “Oh no!” “Thank you for your kindness… President Pei, I have to go handle these documents first!”

Pei Shaoyu watched the slender figure recede into the distance. Clenching the undelivered ointment in his palm, he narrowed his eyes. His plain glasses reflected the light of the fluorescent lamps, and no emotion could be read on his expressionless face.

Meeting Room.

In just three minutes, Kuang Ye had checked his phone four or five times. It was as if the phone were broken; there wasn’t a single new message. With a sour face, Kuang Ye flipped the phone face-down on the table and ignored it.

As the meeting time approached, the attendees arrived one after another.

Pei Shaoyu entered through the door. When he passed by Kuang Ye, Kuang Ye’s nose twitched as he caught a familiar scent. He glanced up, saw it was Pei Shaoyu, and cursed internally.

At that moment, a familiar voice sounded in his ear.

“Um, President Pei, your pen.”

Lin Tingwan’s gaze swept rapidly past the glaring Kuang Ye. He walked past him to Pei Shaoyu’s side and gently placed a fountain pen in front of him.

Pei Shaoyu was startled, then smiled as he took the pen. “I just dropped it, right? Thank you for bringing it to me.”

Just?

What just happened?

A sharp gaze like an arrow shot toward Lin Tingwan. Sensing Kuang Ye looking at him, Lin Tingwan didn’t dare stay for a second longer and ran off quickly like a nimble little rabbit.

Kuang Ye watched his vanishing back: “…”

Without a second thought, he pulled out his chair and followed him out. Sun Qing and Bai Wenjin happened to be coming in from outside. “Xiao Kuang, where are you going?”

Kuang Ye strode outward. “To the restroom!”

Pei Shaoyu looked at him, then at Lin Tingwan, and narrowed his eyes.

Kuang Ye had long legs; one of his steps was worth two of anyone else’s, and he quickly caught up to Lin Tingwan. “What are you running for!”

Lin Tingwan was shouted to a halt. Guiltily, he slowed his pace and stood in place, at a loss.

Kuang Ye’s anger was flaring, but as he hurried over and saw Lin Tingwan’s swollen forehead, the fire in his belly instantly died out.

He unceremoniously reached out and pinched Lin Tingwan’s chin. His heroic eyebrows furrowed so deeply they could have crushed a mosquito. “How did this happen?”

Lin Tingwan struggled awkwardly. Kuang Ye glared, and Lin Tingwan didn’t dare move. Under Kuang Ye’s scrutiny, he said hesitantly, “…I accidentally bumped into something.”

Kuang Ye glared at him huffily for a long while before squeezing a sentence through his teeth: “You’re just going to be the death of me with your clumsiness!”

Lin Tingwan was a bit unhappy about being scolded and took a step back, dodging Kuang Ye’s hand.

Seeing his obvious resistance, Kuang Ye was about to explode, but he remembered his “persona” and forced himself to endure. He forced a gentle tone: “I wasn’t trying to scold you, I was just concerned as an old classmate… Do you have ointment? Apply some.”

Lin Tingwan glanced at him and said softly, “Oh, thank you.”

Kuang Ye: “…”

Calm down, calm down.

Kuang Ye asked: “Is there ointment in the office?”

“…No.”

“Tsk.”

Kuang Ye pulled out his phone, opened a delivery app, and selected an ice pack and ointment, adding them to his cart. “Phone number.”

Lin Tingwan stared at him blankly.

Kuang Ye added, “Your phone number.”

Lin Tingwan blinked, his crow-feather eyelashes trembling slightly, looking very pitiable.

“Uh, thank you for the kindness, I’ll just order it myself.”

Kuang Ye didn’t get angry this time; he just calmly repeated, “Phone number.”

Hearing the tone that brooked no argument, Lin Tingwan had to take the phone from Kuang Ye’s hand. As he took it, his finger accidentally brushed against the back of Kuang Ye’s hand. The place where their skin touched felt like a jolt of electricity both numb and tingling. Both of them stiffened simultaneously.

Lin Tingwan’s face flushed deep red. He hurriedly filled in a number and dropped a sentence, “How much was it? Message me on WeChat, I’ll transfer the money to you in a bit.” Then he ran off.

Kuang Ye watched that panicked back, the corners of his mouth curling up. He waited until the person disappeared before withdrawing his gaze and re-opening the payment page.

Nice try. Changed your number and blacklisted me to hide? I can get your new number just the same!

Then Kuang Ye looked closely the contact information had been filled in with a landline.

Kuang Ye: …

Kuang Ye’s face really turned black this time.

He returned to the meeting room with a sour face. Just as he pushed open the door, his phone chimed. He picked it up and saw it was the payment for the medicine transferred by Lin Tingwan—he had even transferred an extra twenty cents. Kuang Ye’s face pulled even longer. He tossed the phone aside, didn’t accept the money, and didn’t even reply to the message.

After thinking for over half an hour, Kuang Ye finally thought of a way to vent his spite.

At five-thirty, Lin Tingwan was preparing to go home when he received a message from Kuang Ye asking if he was free tonight.

Lin Tingwan sighed. He first called Feng Xueqing, saying he had to work overtime tonight and asking her to pick up Guagua along with Bengbeng, and that he would go to her house to get the child later.

After settling things with Feng Xueqing, Lin Tingwan replied to Kuang Ye’s message.

Lin Tingwan: It’s convenient. Is there any cuisine you want to eat?

yeeze: Whatever.

Lin Tingwan sent him an address.

Lin Tingwan: Is this place okay?

yeeze: Okay.

Lin Tingwan: I just happen to be heading out. Come straight over in a bit.

Kuang Ye gave a cold laugh. He wouldn’t even agree to take his car.

yeeze: Good. Bring your wife and nephew along too, I haven’t met them yet.

Lin Tingwan didn’t reply again.

Kuang Ye curled his lips into a smile at the phone, his eyes cold and looking somewhat frightening.

The restaurant wasn’t far from the company, but Kuang Ye deliberately stayed in his car for an extra half hour.

By the time he arrived belatedly, Lin Tingwan had already finished two cups of tea in the private room and was dazing out at the night view outside the window with his chin propped on his hand.

“Sorry, the meeting ran late. Hope you haven’t been waiting too long?” Kuang Ye looked at Lin Tingwan with a beaming smile.

His back was toward the light source, and the soft yellow lamplight cast a shadow over his face, making his features look even deeper and more handsome. Lin Tingwan was dazed for three seconds before snapping out of it.

He hurriedly stood up from his chair, and in his panic, he knocked over his teacup. Fortunately, Kuang Ye was quick enough to catch it before it smashed.

Lin Tingwan let out an “Ah” and blushed belatedly.

“It’s fine, I only just arrived a little while ago myself.”

“Oh, that’s good.” Kuang Ye smiled gently and pulled out a chair to sit opposite him.

Lin Tingwan pushed the menu toward him. “See what you want to eat.”

“Okay.” Kuang Ye curled his lips, his sharp features softening with the smile, looking dazzlingly handsome. Lin Tingwan was dazed by his smile and didn’t dare look at him anymore.

Kuang Ye took in his every reaction. He shifted his posture, crossing his legs in a very relaxed manner, and asked as if casually: “There’s four of us; five dishes should be about right.”

“Hmm?”

“Aren’t your wife and nephew coming?” Kuang Ye arched an eyebrow, his gaze falling straight onto Lin Tingwan’s face. Lin Tingwan felt that sharp gaze seemed to look into his very soul, as if to dig out all his secrets.

“Uh…” Lin Tingwan finally understood what he meant, and he was so embarrassed his breathing slowed down: “They have some things to do and can’t come. It’s just the two of us eating.”

Kuang Ye stared at his flushed face and inexplicably let out a “Ha.”

Lin Tingwan’s heart leapt at that sound. His back was covered in sweat, and his shirt stuck to his body.

“I see, that’s a bit of a pity then,” Kuang Ye said slowly. “We’ll eat together next time.”

Lin Tingwan didn’t dare respond to that.

Kuang Ye seemed not to notice his abnormality. He casually ordered a few dishes and pushed the menu back. “See if you want to add anything.”

How could Lin Tingwan have the mind to look? He snapped the menu shut and stood up as if fleeing: “That’s it! I’ll go give it to the waiter!”

Watching his panicked back, Kuang Ye didn’t call him back; he just gave a snort and touched his lips.

This dinner was still going to take a long time.

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