A Single Father’s Troubles - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Master

More than half an hour later, Lin Tingwan poked his head out of the stairwell in a disheveled state, peeking around furtively. Seeing no one, he quietly pushed the door open and stepped out.

The violent thumping of his heart gradually synchronized with the rhythm of his footsteps. Lin Tingwan couldn’t help but raise his hand to press against his burning, red face.

Scenes of what had just happened involuntarily surfaced in his mind. Just thinking of one or two ambiguous images made Lin Tingwan feel as if all his organs and blood were on fire.

He shook his head, trying hard to think about his unfinished work, finally managing to let his heart calm down slightly. However, even by the time he returned to the office, the flush on his face still hadn’t faded.

As soon as he entered the office, Lin Tingwan took advantage of the fact that no one was noticing him and tiptoed toward his desk, only to be frozen in place by a strange yelp.

Zhou Zhou “sprang” up from her chair and jogged over to Lin Tingwan, scrutinizing his face closely and letting out exclamations of wonder every now and then.

The face was still the same face vivid features, exquisite details it was already exceptionally good-looking to begin with. But now, two patches of crimson were faintly drifting across his cheeks; beneath his curled eyelashes, his dark pupils were covered in a layer of moist mist, and the corners of his eyes were slightly red, as if he had just finished a bout of crying.

It truly was a sight that sparked pity and tenderness!

Zhou Zhou stared for a long time, feeling a tingle in her nose. She quickly covered her nose, took two steps back, and clutched her heart dramatically, shouting, “Holy sh*t, you’re too good-looking! Tingwan, you’re too beautiful! Your beauty is practically aggressive!”

She swore she wasn’t lying. Lin Tingwan’s prettiness could almost solidify into a physical force, attacking her until she felt dizzy!

Hearing her nonsense, the heat that had finally subsided from Lin Tingwan’s cheeks flared up again. The teasing glances from other colleagues made him feel even more uneasy.

“What are you saying!” Lin Tingwan shyly avoided her gaze, skirted around her to sit back in his seat, and buried his head in his computer screen.

Zhou Zhou followed behind him like a little tail. She propped her chin on her hands, resting them on Lin Tingwan’s desk, staring at him like a total fangirl. She said very sincerely, “Really, you were just pretty before, but now… how should I put it? What I’m about to say might be a bit offensive, but I’m clumsy with words, so don’t be mad.”

“Right now, you look like you’ve been… ‘nourished.’ You’re glowing, like you’ve been polished and blessed, you know?”

“Pfft—” The water in Lin Tingwan’s mouth sprayed out. He coughed until he was breathless, his eyes red as he glared at Zhou Zhou for saying such shocking things. Compared to her, the things Kuang Ye said were fit for broadcast without censorship.

Lin Tingwan’s face turned so red it looked like it could drip blood. He covered his face and pleaded in a small voice, “Just go do your work, I beg you.”

Seeing that he was so embarrassed he looked ready to dig a hole and bury himself, and realizing that a “little white rabbit” like Lin Tingwan wasn’t a “tough flower” like them—who had fought on many battlefields and could stir up trouble without a breeze—Zhou Zhou stopped teasing him.

With lingering fear, Lin Tingwan sat back in his seat and first sent a message to Pei Shaoyü, declining his invitation.

The Manager’s Office.

Ding,

Pei Shaoyü’s eyes were fixed on the screen, reviewing a file. Hearing the notification, he finished typing the last line before picking up his phone.

Sorry, President Pei. The performance you mentioned conflicts with my friend’s competition. We probably won’t be able to make it.

Pei Shaoyü took off his glasses, tossed them irritably onto the desk, and massaged the bridge of his nose.

The Saturday event was less than a few days away. Lin Tingwan was very meticulous. Pei Shaoyü knew he had a habit of keeping a schedule. He had clearly been considering it at first. This meant the original Saturday plan was optional.

What made Lin Tingwan change his mind so suddenly? A friend’s competition… who was it? Bian Wang?

Pei Shaoyü leaned back against his chair and let out a heavy sigh.

It was rare for his son to ask him for anything, and he had already promised him that he would strive to make Lin Tingwan his new “Mommy.” But now…

Pei Shaoyü couldn’t tell if it was to satisfy his own desires or his extraordinary competitive streak, but he was truly starting to become interested in Lin Tingwan now.

The secretary stood at the door, looking like she wanted to enter but didn’t dare.

Hearing the movement, Pei Shaoyü looked up.

The secretary braced herself and walked in, placing a stack of documents on Pei Shaoyü’s desk. She said softly, “President Pei, these are the documents that require your signature…”

“Understood.”

Pei Shaoyü called out to the secretary as she was about to leave, “By the way, check the salary adjustments for employees who have been with the company for about a year.”

Although the secretary was a bit surprised why Pei Shaoyü would suddenly ask this, she didn’t hesitate for a second and immediately said, “Okay, I’ll go inquire right away and compile the data to send to you later.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Seeing he had no other instructions, the secretary waited for ten seconds, then walked steadily to the door without haste. After closing the door, she clutched her chest and let out a long sigh of relief.

Who upset Pei Shaoyü? His face was so sullen, it was terrifying!

Usually, whenever Kuang Ye was around at noon, he would have lunch with Lin Tingwan. Since the first phase of the Fuchuan collaboration officially ended the day before yesterday, the opportunities for Lin Tingwan and Kuang Ye to meet had dropped sharply. They could only squeeze in some time here and there to sit in the car. Kuang Ye’s resentment was practically written on his face; Lin Tingwan felt guilty and went even further out of his way to coax him.

Lin Tingwan had also suddenly discovered that Kuang Ye was actually just like Guagua—if you gave him enough emotional value, he became very easy to talk to and wouldn’t sweat the big or small things.

The only thing that troubled Lin Tingwan a bit was that Kuang Ye had started frantically sending him things again, including many items for Guagua. Every time, it was bags and boxes piled up in the house like a small mountain.

On the other hand, Bian Wang had been coming over quite frequently lately. Sometimes he happened to be picking up his parents from work and would stop by Lin Tingwan’s house for a bit to play with Guagua before heading back. Other times, he brought steamed buns and pastries handmade by Zhao Congfang.

This evening, Lin Tingwan had just finished a phone call with Kuang Ye when he suddenly heard a knock at the door.

Guagua, who was sitting at his little desk drawing, dropped his crayon and ran fast to pull the door open.

Bian Wang stood at the door with a bright smile, waving his hand: “Hi, Gua-bao.”

“Wang-wang Ge!”

Bian Wang’s gaze moved to Lin Tingwan, and he froze for a moment just looking at him.

Lin Tingwan was wearing a set of light beige cotton crew-neck pajamas. Because they had been washed many times, the neckline had become quite loose, revealing a large portion of his snowy-white, translucent collarbones. His thin and slender silhouette was fully visible.

Bian Wang’s gaze lingered on Lin Tingwan’s slender waist. He still remembered how, in his dream, he had pressed down on that thin waist while panting… that dream was too real, leaving a deep impression on his memory. He even felt as if he could sense the heat radiating from Lin Tingwan’s body so warm, so enchanting…

“Bian Wang?”

“Ah?! Ting—Tingwan Ge, were you calling me?” Bian Wang had been staring for a good ten seconds before he suddenly snapped out of it, his face flushing crimson as his eyes darted away, not daring to look at Lin Tingwan.

Lin Tingwan found it a bit strange and asked with concern, “Why is your face so red? Did you catch a cold?”

Guagua immediately stood up and ran thud-thud-thud toward the sideboard, shouting, “Medicine, medicine, Brother take medicine…”

Bian Wang let out a forced cough and hurriedly called him back awkwardly, “Guagua, no medicine needed, I’m fine!”

Guagua was holding a small medical kit that was half his size. Hearing Bian Wang say it wasn’t needed, he let out a confused “Gua?”

“I just came in from outside. It’s at least ten degrees colder out there than in here. The temperature in the house is high; it’s too hot.” Bian Wang pulled at his hoodie collar to cover his tracks and fanned himself. “Tingwan Ge, did you turn the heating up too high?”

Lin Tingwan walked over to the entrance to check the control panel. “It’s fine, it’s at 26 degrees. Not that hot.”

When Guagua heard Bian Wang didn’t want medicine anymore, he curled his lip and laboriously stuffed the medical kit back.

What a pity, those cooling patches you stick on your forehead feel so comfortable!

Bian Wang didn’t expect him to actually go check; he was incredibly embarrassed.

“Oh, oh, then it might just be me coming in from the outside and feeling hot.”

Right then, Lin Tingwan’s phone in his pocket started flashing and lighting up.

“Ah! I’ll pick up! I’ll pick up!” Guagua tossed aside the fever patch he was holding and turned to reach into Lin Tingwan’s pocket. “Daddy, Daddy, let me!”

Lin Tingwan raised his hands to make it easy for Guagua to pull the phone out.

In the latest episode of “Baby, Baby,” Beibei calls every single one of his friends and always has to say: “Hello, I am Beibei. May I ask who you are?”

Guagua loved talking like that way too much!

So whenever they were home, the task of answering Lin Tingwan’s calls was handled entirely by him.

Unfortunately, his daddy’s phone was too crappy and often didn’t ring, so Guagua’s little wish wasn’t fulfilled very often.

Lin Tingwan gave Guagua early education, so Guagua recognized some words. Usually, before answering, he would loudly read out the name on the caller ID.

Aside from members of the Bian family, those who called Lin Tingwan were occasionally Feng Xueqing and Zhou Zhou, while the rest were a few colleagues. Kuang Ye rarely called him; it was usually WeChat.

Guagua held the large phone with both hands, staring at the caller ID. He stared for a long time but still didn’t recognize those two words, so he had to ask Lin Tingwan for help: “Ren… something something Zhu… what is it, Daddy?”

(Note: “Ren” is part of the character “Zhai” (Debt), and “Zhu” is Owner/Lord. Guagua is misreading the characters for “Creditor/Debt Collector” (Zhaizhu))

Lin Tingwan was confused until he took a look, and his face turned pale.

He had Kuang Ye saved under the nickname: Zhaizhu (Debt Collector).

Not only was Guagua confused, but Bian Wang didn’t understand either.

What Ren? What Zhu? Zhuren (Master)?

Lin Tingwan gripped the phone and said calmly to Guagua, “Baby, Daddy is going to take a call. Go play with Wang-wang Ge for a bit.”

“Okay.”

Bian Wang looked over suspiciously. Lin Tingwan walked to the bedroom’s bathroom and locked the door before answering.

Bian Wang pretended to play with Guagua, but his entire heart was focused on the closed bedroom door.

It’s just a phone call—why lock the door?

Whose call is it? Master? What “Master”?

Bian Wang lowered his eyes and tried to fish for information from Guagua.

“Gua-bao, for the ball game we’re seeing tomorrow, do you want Wang-wang Ge to come pick up you and Daddy?”

Guagua shook his head. “Daddy said~ don’t want to trouble Wang-wang Ge, we’ll take a taxi.”

“Oh, taking a taxi? Is no one giving you a ride?”

Guagua looked at him in confusion. “Is Little White giving us a ride? But Daddy doesn’t let Uncle Winter ride Little White anymore.”

It seemed it had nothing to do with that Mulsanne man.

Seeing Lin Tingwan come out, Guagua stood up from the floor and ran quickly toward the bedroom. Guagua’s large, dark eyes stared at Lin Tingwan, full of curiosity. “Daddy, who was on the phone?”

“Uh, a friend of Daddy’s…”

“Ah! I know! It’s the Good Man Uncle!” Guagua’s eyes lit up, and he suddenly started jumping and clapping. “Daddy, Daddy, I want to talk to the Good Man Uncle too!”

Lin Tingwan was stunned. He could even guess that?!

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