After the Fake Young Master Betrayed the Australian Farmer - Chapter 25

“An extra order of Garlic Prawns for Table 2!”

Han Yan arranged the handwritten slips in order and picked up a bowl of scalding hot soup. Just as he stepped out of the kitchen, the soup was taken from his hands.

He lifted his eyelids and met a tense face. Those emerald-green eyes were filled with nervousness and concern.

“What are you doing?”

“I will help you serve. You should take a break.”

Han Yan initially wanted to argue, but considering it was the peak dining hour, doing so would only delay the food service. He had no choice but to let him be.

“Table 10.”

A flicker of joy danced in Adams’ eyes. He carried the soup steadily and delivered it to the customers at that table.

Han Yan watched his back, and seeing that there was not a single slip-up, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned to take an order from another table.

“What would you like to eat?”

Han Yan looked down, about to pull a pen and paper from his apron pocket, when he was interrupted by a surprised male voice.

“Han Yan?”

He looked at the clean-cut young man sitting alone who looked somewhat familiar. His brain short-circuited for a few seconds, but before he could think further, the other party spoke up voluntarily: “I am Han Jue. You helped me drive away those teenagers last month.”

Hearing the name, Han Yan finally remembered and raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“It is you. That is quite a coincidence. Have those teenagers picked on you again lately?”

Han Jue gave a shy smile, revealing two dimples at the corners of his mouth.

“No. I carry hairspray with me whenever I go out now.” As he spoke, he pulled a bottle from his bag to show Han Yan.

In Australia, carrying pepper spray or mace is illegal, so many Chinese nationals choose to carry hairspray to serve as a makeshift defense spray.

Han Yan chuckled and gave him an appreciative thumbs-up.

“Not bad. Congratulations on mastering the secret to surviving Australia.”

Suddenly, he felt a burning gaze from behind, a physical stare that felt like it was trying to bore a hole through the back of his head.

Han Yan ignored it. He noted Han Jue’s order and dietary restrictions before turning back to the kitchen to hand in the slip.

Han Jue watched his back, then tilted his head to meet a pair of eyes glowing with a faint green light. His expression instantly became meaningful, and he gave a polite nod to the man.

Once the dinner rush passed, Han Yan finally had a chance to breathe. He sat down on the steps without any regard for his image, taking a deep breath of the fresh outside air. His groggy brain instantly cleared up a bit.

Footsteps approached from a distance and stopped behind him, followed by someone sitting down next to him.

“You seemed very happy chatting with that customer just now.”

Han Yan glanced at him. “And?”

“Do you like that type now?”

Adams’ train of thought always managed to leave Han Yan speechless. He scrolled through his phone nonchalantly and said casually, “What does it matter to you what type I like? Adams, at most, we are just classmates and roommates now.”

He did not know what kind of benefit this guy had given Jack to make him leave so abruptly without even taking his luggage. Oh, he had seen that luggage in the trash bin downstairs when he went out; it was clearly the handiwork of a certain someone.

Tsk, his jealousy is really something else.

Adams pursed his lips, a flash of disappointment in his eyes. He reached out to pull Han Yan into his arms, burying his head on Han Yan’s shoulder, his voice muffled: “Han Yan, why exactly are you unwilling to continue being friends with benefits with me? It is my business that I like you. It is your freedom not to respond to me. I have not demanded that you return these feelings. Can we not just go back to the way we were?”

Han Yan looked down at the large hand tightly gripping his waist and let out an annoyed tsk.

“Can we stop talking about this? Let go, I have to go back in and work. Don’t follow me when I am working from now on. You really affect me.”

Han Yan had come out for his part-time job today, and Adams had insisted on coming along. Originally, the man was worried about his health and wanted to work the shift for him, but Han Yan had glared him back.

If you really cared about me, you should have shown some restraint last night instead of going so completely crazy!

Han Yan rubbed his still-aching waist, broke free from Adams’ embrace, and stood up. He pushed open the kitchen door, but before leaving, he glanced at the someone looking at him with puppy-dog eyes. The harsh words at the tip of his tongue were ultimately swallowed back down.

“Go home. You are not an employee. What does it look like for you to stay here and help?”

“Han Yan, are you feeling unwell? You look very pale.”

A colleague noticed Han Yan’s lips were white and a layer of fine sweat had broken out on his forehead, glistening under the lights.

It had been so busy tonight that he had not yet had time to eat. Han Yan’s stomach was cramping in waves. He forced himself to stay upright and shook his head.

“I am fine. It is just a bit tiring with so many people.”

Han Yan grit his teeth and kept busy for a while longer, but his body grew heavier. Suddenly, his feet stumbled. Just as he was about to collapse, a pair of hands steadily caught him by the waist.

He opened his mouth to say thanks, and after steadying himself, he looked up at the person. The familiar face made his vision blur for a moment, and he instinctively knitted his brows.

“Why are you back again?”

Adams stuffed car keys into his hand and untied the apron around his waist.

“Go rest in the car. I bought porridge. I will finish the rest of the work for you.”

Han Yan was stunned for a moment. Just as a refusal was about to slip out, he was glared back by a certain someone. The scene felt strangely familiar.

“If you do not go back and rest, I am going to kiss you right here.”

Han Yan fell silent at those words. Staring at the man’s reddening ear tips, he was exasperated. He gripped the car keys, explained the situation to his colleague, and turned to stride away without even saying goodbye to Adams. That back looked somewhat like it was fleeing in panic.

Where on earth did Adams learn to say things like that? Always learning all sorts of nonsense. This guy really needs to have his internet cut off!

Han Yan walked out of the restaurant irritably and immediately spotted the conspicuous SUV parked by the road. He pressed the key fob and climbed into the passenger seat.

The car door closed, completely cutting off the hustle and bustle outside. Sitting in the quiet car, he slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. There was a bag on the storage box to his right. He untied it and took out the takeaway container. Upon lifting the lid, a rich, fresh aroma instantly wafted out.

He swallowed his saliva, and with a neutral expression, he picked up the spoon and began to eat ravenously. It tasted much better than the staff meals at the restaurant.

After a bowl of hot seafood porridge, the pain in his stomach gradually eased, and his cold limbs warmed up again. After cleaning up, he lowered the back of the seat and lay there, looking out the window. From this angle, he could see Adams’ busy figure inside the restaurant.

He stared at that back with a complicated expression for a long time and sighed in his heart.

Why care so much about feelings? What is so good about this “feelings” thing anyway? And “not asking for a response,” who would believe that pathetic look in his eyes? Saying he wants to keep being “friends with benefits,” but he is clearly treating me like someone pursuing a lover. Back to the way it was? How could it ever be the same?

This man was willing to throw away 200 million dollars for him. This love was too heavy and too intense. If it ever turned sour one day, it would undoubtedly be a catastrophic disaster. He really could not afford to bear it.

When Adams returned, he brought back Han Yan’s wages for the day. Han Yan took the two fifty-dollar bills, stuffed one into his pocket, and handed the other over.

“You helped me today, so it is only right that we split the pay in half.”

Adams did not take it, his expression sincere.

“Last night was my fault. If it was not for me, you would not be in such a bad state today. Helping you is what I should do. Keep the money for yourself. You do not need to give it to me.”

A hint of impatience flickered between Han Yan’s brows. He stuffed the money into the man’s hand, leaned back against the seat, and closed his eyes.

“Drive.”

Upon reaching home, Han Yan took a quick shower. As soon as he opened the bathroom door, he saw Adams standing there like a guardian statue. He rubbed his temples tiredly.

“What do you want now?”

Han Yan’s skin was steamed pink from the hot water. Damp strands of hair clung to his forehead, and water droplets fell from the tips onto his delicate collarbone, disappearing into his loose collar and leaving a clear wet trail.

Adams’ Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. He held up the hairdryer in his hand and said in a husky voice, “I am here to dry your hair.”

“I do not need it.”

Han Yan tried to bypass him, but his wrist was caught, and he was dragged to the living room. Ignoring his protests, the other man pressed him down onto the brand-new leather sofa, plugged in the dryer, and began to blow-dry his hair.

Since he could not win, Han Yan chose to lie flat and enjoy it. So much had happened today that once he finally rested, exhaustion instantly swept over him. He narrowed his eyes, his head nodding rhythmically as he drifted off.

“Go sleep in my room.”

Adams steadied Han Yan’s shoulders and kissed the corner of his forehead. By now, Han Yan was in a half-asleep state, letting out a muffled, indistinct syllable from his throat. Adams used his right hand to support Han Yan’s bottom and picked him up, letting him lean against him, while his left hand rubbed the back of Han Yan’s head.

Han Yan buried his head into the crook of the man’s neck and rubbed against it unconsciously. Adams carried him into the room, laid him flat on the bed, and tucked him in. Then, he climbed into the covers himself, put his arm around Han Yan’s waist, and lowered his head to kiss the top of his head.

“Nighty-night, babe.”

“Han Yan, listen to my explanation. That day was absolutely not because I was treacherous and abandoned you as a brother; it was mainly because the other party gave way too much!”

Fang Jianan sat next to Han Yan, trying to clear his name. What he did not say was that at the time, Adams was staring at him with a look that suggested if he did not leave, he would be knocked unconscious and thrown out. Thus, he had no choice but to tearfully accept the room fee and find the nearest hotel to stay the night.

Han Yan tapped away on his computer keyboard. He caught a glimpse of something behind Fang Jianan out of the corner of his eye and tilted his chin up.

“Look, the ‘gave-too-much’ someone is here.”

Fang Jianan turned around and met a pair of wolf-like eyes. He flinched in fright and could not help but blurt out a curse.

“Is the car parked?” Han Yan asked casually without looking up.

Adams gave a small hum, took a seat in the empty spot to Han Yan’s right, and pulled a thermos from his bag, placing it by his hand.

“Your stomach has not been great lately. Do not drink cold things.”

Han Yan looked at the thermos, the corner of his mouth twitching. Making me drink hot water in this sweltering weather, this is practically trying to kill me!

Fang Jianan looked at Han Yan, then at Adams, and suddenly remembered the conversation he had overheard—no, “listened to openly” that day. He leaned in toward Han Yan and whispered, “Han Yan, he is not some kind of perverted superfan of yours, is he?”

Han Yan went silent. He actually felt that Fang Jianan’s description was quite fitting.

“What are you guys talking about?”

A resentful voice sounded from his right. Han Yan turned to look at Adams’ moist pupils and shifted his gaze down to the man’s lips. There was a fresh scab on them, and he himself was the culprit.

This morning, as soon as he opened his eyes, he was met with those big puppy eyes, coupled with a damnable morning reaction. It must have been because his mind was not clear at the time; otherwise, how could he have fallen for Adams’ tricks again?

He closed his eyes and lowered his voice, saying through gritted teeth, “Stop looking at me with those eyes!”