A Single Father’s Troubles - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Out of Control

The two remained in silence.

The atmosphere in the small private room became somewhat peculiar for a moment.

Bian Wang stared at Lin Tingwan with burning eyes, but Lin Tingwan kept his head lowered, saying not a single word.

Although there was no explicit rejection, Bian Wang found the answer in the stiff corners of Lin Tingwan’s mouth.

The light in his eyes dimmed and flickered out bit by bit; the smile retracted from his lips. He buried his head deep into his chest, half of his face submerged in shadows, remaining silent.

Lin Tingwan looked at the young man across from him—the Bian Wang he treated like a younger brother with a sense of pity. Bian Wang’s expression looked so sorrowful, as if he might shatter in the next second.

Yet, Lin Tingwan still opened his dry throat: “Bian Wang, thank you for your kindness, but we’ll just take a taxi back ourselves.”

Bian Wang let out a tragic laugh.

The sound was so mournful that the little meatball, Guagua, poked his head up from the mountain of meat on his plate. He looked at his daddy, then at Bian Wang.

Huh? Why is Daddy’s expression so weird?

Wang-wang Ge’s expression is very strange, too.

What happened?

Car-car? Wang-wang Ge wants Daddy to ride in the car-car, but Daddy doesn’t want to?

Hmm… Wang-wang Ge looks like he’s going to cry.

Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid, Gua-bao is here!

Guagua heroically wiped his greasy mouth and said loudly: “Daddy! I want to ride in Wang-wang Ge’s car!”

Seeing that Lin Tingwan hadn’t answered, Bian Wang had already been in despair. But when Guagua’s words suddenly fell, his lowered head snapped up. He seemed somewhat incredulous, his eyes flickering with light. “Really? Gua-bao wants to ride in my car?”

Bian Wang had a hazy premonition in his heart. If Lin Tingwan rejected him this time, it would be virtually impossible for him to get close again in the future.

But Guagua’s answer gave him a new strategy. A shred of hope! He knew how much weight Guagua held in Lin Tingwan’s heart. He was doing his utmost to be good to Guagua and Lin Tingwan. As long as Lin Tingwan wasn’t in a committed relationship with someone else, wouldn’t he have a chance one day?

Even if he was, what if… what if he successfully “dug out the foot of the wall” (stole him away)?

Bian Wang was practically on the verge of tears. He looked at Guagua gratefully—it wasn’t in vain that he had played with Guagua as if he were his own son. Guagua, you really don’t disappoint at the critical moment!

Guagua had no idea that his single sentence had reignited Bian Wang’s fighting spirit. Seeing Bian Wang winking and making faces at him, he understood instantly. He climbed onto Lin Tingwan’s lap, nuzzling his head against Lin Tingwan’s cheek and acting spoiled: “Daddy, let’s ride in Wang-wang Ge’s car… I want to play with Wang-wang Ge for a while longer.”

Great job, Guagua! Bian Wang wanted nothing more than to pick him up and give him two big kisses right then and there.

“Baby, we’ll take a taxi back. Bian Wang… Wang-wang Ge has things to do,” Lin Tingwan rejected with difficulty.

“I have nothing to do! Tingwan Ge, let me drive you guys!” Bian Wang stood up urgently, looking at Lin Tingwan pleadingly.

Lin Tingwan knitted his brows in a dilemma.

Bian Wang immediately promised: “I’m just driving you back, I won’t do anything else. Trust me.”

Lin Tingwan felt like his head was growing two sizes larger.

Bian Wang glanced at Guagua. Guagua, in perfect sync with him, began to whimper beside them.

“Daddy… Wang-wang Ge~ play…”

Lin Tingwan had no defense against Guagua rolling around on his lap acting spoiled, so he had no choice but to agree.

During the hour-long drive, Bian Wang drove very focusdly. Only at red lights would he stealthily lift his eyes to steal a glance at the back seat through the rearview mirror.

Lin Tingwan was looking after Guagua and never looked up.

Bian Wang’s buoyant heart gradually began to sink. He gripped the steering wheel, comforting himself: It’s fine. As long as Tingwan Ge isn’t with someone else, I have hope.

When Shen Zhidong’s call came through, Kuang Ye was at the boxing gym. His sparring partners were all professional level. Kuang Ye was fighting with abandon, drenched in sweat, the flexed muscles of his upper arms bulging with power.

At that moment, a staff member approached holding his phone. “Your call.”

Kuang Ye threw a final hook. The sparring partner raised his arm to block, but under Kuang Ye’s full-force blow, he was still knocked back two steps.

“Hiss—”

Kuang Ye felt refreshed after the round of boxing. In a great mood, he reached out and took the phone, tilting his head to hold it against his shoulder while waving away the person trying to help him remove his gloves, taking them off himself in a few quick motions.

“Where are you, Ye Ge?”

“What’s up?” Kuang Ye tossed the gloves to a nearby person, took the phone, and jumped gracefully off the platform, his body carving a beautiful arc in the air like a healthy leopard. Powerful and handsome.

“…Just wanted to ask if you’re with my little sister-in-law.”

Kuang Ye’s hand paused as he reached for his water bottle. “Why ask about him all of a sudden? He took the kid out to play.”

“Did he tell you where they went?” Shen Zhidong pressed urgently.

Kuang Ye sensed something was wrong. He put down his hand and frowned: “Stop playing riddles.”

Shen Zhidong took a deep breath, his voice trembling: “Buddy, you gotta calm down first. Maybe it’s a misunderstanding, okay?”

Kuang Ye became a bit impatient. “Speak.”

As he spoke, the phone vibrated slightly. He pulled the phone away from his ear. Shen Zhidong was still saying: “…I sent a photo to you. Take a look.”

Kuang Ye froze after just one glance. Holding the phone felt like a red-hot iron brand searing into his flesh.

In the picture, Bian Wang was looking at Lin Tingwan with a beaming smile, his hand resting on the brat’s head. The brat was leaning against Lin Tingwan’s leg, showing a small part of his profile while smiling at Bian Wang. The warm sunlight draped a layer over the three of them, creating an indescribable sense of warmth.

Kuang Ye exploded the moment he saw it. He had asked Lin Tingwan what he was doing today; he said he was taking the little kid out to play, but it turned out to be with Bian Wang! This feeling of his beloved possession being coveted by someone else caused him to lose all patience for restraint. Shen Zhidong heard his breathing suddenly turn heavy and coarse over the phone. His little heart skipped a beat.

“Buddy, calm down, calm down…”

Kuang Ye cursed “Fuck” inwardly. Before the other could finish speaking, he hung up with a click.

Everyone below the ring saw the dramatic change in Kuang Ye’s expression. All the staff members collectively held their breath.

Only after Kuang Ye hurried away did several staff members dare to wipe the sweat from their foreheads.

Kuang Ye’s expression was terrifying, as if he were ready to kill. He tossed the keys to the driver—his current state was too unstable; he was afraid of an accident.

All the way there, Kuang Ye told himself to be calm, to be calm. Lin Tingwan had no feelings for Bian Wang; he believed him. But just the thought of Lin Tingwan and Bian Wang appearing together made Kuang Ye feel as if jealousy were about to swallow him whole. The passing time only made the fire of anger in his heart burn more fiercely.

Finally, the car reached the gate of the Luhu residential area.

Things were just that coincidental. While he was still a short distance from the complex, he witnessed a gray Volvo enter the area ahead of him.

The two cars entered the parking lot almost one after the other.

Kuang Ye didn’t get out of the car. His gaze followed Lin Tingwan as he got out of the car holding the sleeping brat, bid farewell to Bian Wang, and turned to walk into the elevator lobby. Merely seeing Bian Wang and Lin Tingwan appearing in the same space made Kuang Ye’s eyes turn red with jealousy.

A winter night. The residential area was empty, with no pedestrians in sight. Above the tall maple trees, dry branches swayed in the cold wind. The biting wind blew, making Kuang Ye’s clothes flap loudly. He stood in the wind for a long time in silence, his gaze fixed on the bedroom window where the light was on. Only when the last trace of warmth on his body dissipated did he pull out his phone.

Before his finger could touch the dial button, it vibrated. Lin Tingwan’s unique ringtone echoed through the quiet complex.

He stood in the cold wind, his handsome profile radiating chilliness, his brows and eyes seemingly frosted with ice.

“Hello.”

“Kuang Ye, wh-where are you right now? Is it convenient to come out and meet?”

Even across a phone line, the urgency in Lin Tingwan’s voice couldn’t be hidden.

The more urgent he was, the colder Kuang Ye’s heart became.

Why meet in such a hurry? Was it… was he going to tell him they were breaking up?

Kuang Ye stared expressionlessly at the window glowing with warm yellow light. His heart sank lower and lower, yet his voice was unexpectedly calm: “I’m in your building’s parking lot waiting for you.”

Lin Tingwan’s head was completely filled with the fact that Bian Wang liked him. He was in a total panic and didn’t stop to wonder why Kuang Ye was right downstairs. He only thought that he must see Kuang Ye quickly; it was as if once he saw Kuang Ye, he would have a plan.

After confirming that Guagua was fast asleep and tucking the blanket around him, Lin Tingwan ran downstairs quickly.

As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, Lin Tingwan saw the Mulsanne parked quietly in the space directly facing the elevator.

The lighting in the parking lot was dim. The pure black Mulsanne looked like a giant black beast with its claws hidden, its silhouette very blurred.

Lin Tingwan walked to the side of the car, checked the license plate, and confirmed it was Kuang Ye’s car. The doors were tightly shut. He leaned down and peeked through the glass to see if anyone was inside. Suddenly, the still window rolled down a crack, revealing a pair of eyes shimmering with a cold light.

“Get in.” Kuang Ye’s voice came from the back seat.

Lin Tingwan pulled the door open. He had just sat down and hadn’t even had time to speak when he felt a weight on his waist and subsequently fell into an embrace.

With a bang, the car door was pulled shut forcefully. The sound-activated lights of the entire parking level lit up in unison.

The man’s tensed muscles hurt him slightly upon impact. He let out an involuntary low cry, wanting to say something, but Kuang Ye suddenly stopped restraining himself. One hand pinned his arms down as he tilted his head up and kissed his lips fiercely. His tongue forcefully pried open his lips to lick his mouth.

The back of Lin Tingwan’s shirt-clad body pressed against the leather seat; the cold sensation gave him goosebumps.

“Kuang Ye… Kuang Ye… wait, I have something to say to you…”

He pushed against Kuang Ye’s head, but Kuang Ye caught his hands in return. Kuang Ye looked at Lin Tingwan with bloodshot eyes. At the thought that after tonight, this person might disappear from his life again, Kuang Ye lost control instantly.

He kissed him even more violently. Lin Tingwan couldn’t hold his ground at all; saliva he didn’t have time to swallow slid down from their joined lips.

Kuang Ye’s burning palm caressed that thin, slender waist. Lin Tingwan’s face turned deep red from the kneading. A surge of dense pleasure came turbulently; half of his body was almost soft. His mind was a blank blur, and he nearly forgot what he wanted to say.

Not until Lin Tingwan felt a trace of pain on his lips did a sob involuntarily escape from his throat.

Lin Tingwan felt the pressure on his shoulders suddenly ease. His thin shoulder blades pressed against the seat back while his chest was forced tightly against Kuang Ye’s. His hands were placed on Kuang Ye’s chest, trembling uncontrollably.

Kuang Ye was trembling.

Why?

Lin Tingwan raised his misty eyes, looking at Kuang Ye blankly. Kuang Ye’s expression was cold, and his gaze was cold too sharp and icy, with dark undercurrents surging beneath. Lin Tingwan’s heart pounded with fear at that fierce and angry look.

“What do you want to say, huh? Break up?” Kuang Ye’s voice was icy, practically dropping shards of ice.

Grit his teeth, he stared at Lin Tingwan with red-rimmed eyes and hissed, “So eager to find a father for your son?”

Support