Obediently, Lean on my Shoulder - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Silver jewelry is a characteristic feature of Yunnan. Local women wear strings of silver ornaments when they get married; they are not only beautiful but also beneficial to physical health.

More than a year ago, Teng Ming bought a silver ring in Lijiang. He liked it very much, and everyone who saw it thought it was beautiful except Fan Ye. Several times, Fan Ye mentioned that the ring on his hand was ugly. On last year’s Valentine’s Day, Fan Ye even specifically gave Teng Ming a diamond ring, which gave Teng Ming a shock; if one didn’t know better, they would have thought it was a marriage proposal!

Teng Ming used the excuse that he didn’t like diamond rings and refused to accept it no matter what. Left with no choice, Fan Ye had to keep it himself.

Coming to Dali this time, besides visiting the scenic spots, Teng Ming decided to search the ancient city for some nice-looking rings. Fan Ye didn’t like carrying a backpack when going out, and neither did Teng Ming, but Teng Ming felt that without a backpack, holding a phone, wallet, and power bank in his hands would be very troublesome, so he carried one.

As a result, after walking for a while, he complained that his back was sore and aching. Then, the wife-doting Fan Ye naturally took over the bag and carried it helplessly.

Teng Ming had almost grown accustomed to the gazes cast by many people when the two of them walked side-by-side. He knew most of those people were looking at Fan Ye, especially since the guy was wearing a pair of cool sunglasses.

Amidst the bustling crowd, the two finally found a spot to sit down, drink water, and chat. At that moment, someone nearby was busking with a guitar. They actually sang quite well, and it wasn’t the typical mainstream folk songs; it seemed to be an original composition.

He wanted to pull Fan Ye over to take a look, but Fan Ye wasn’t interested in this and told Teng Ming to go by himself while he sat there and waited.

By the time Teng Ming had watched two songs and returned to the original spot, Fan Ye was nowhere to be found. Checking his phone messages, he saw that Fan Ye had sent a message saying he went to the restroom.

Teng Ming waited on the spot. After waiting for nearly twenty minutes, there was still no news. During that time, he made several calls, but Fan Ye didn’t pick up.

Teng Ming felt both angry and worried. Could he have been mugged?

He was so tall and physically strong; it was more likely he would mug someone else. Then… could it be that he went to meet an online friend again? Teng Ming thought back to the “Banana Man” they encountered on the train when coming to Dali.

Teng Ming felt he shouldn’t think such wild thoughts, so he relaxed his mind and went to browse silver jewelry shops elsewhere by himself.

Does everyone think that in this situation he would be in no mood to shop?

Heh, Teng Ming was exactly the opposite. Alone in this situation, he shopped very happily. Not only did he buy many snacks for himself, but he also picked out a nice ring, enjoying himself immensely. To prevent himself from checking his phone every few minutes, he specifically turned it off.

Soon it was dinner time. To pick a good restaurant out of the dazzling array of options, one really had to rely on Dazhong Dianping (the app).

So, Teng Ming turned on his phone and immediately received many SMS notifications for missed calls, originating from three different numbers. On WeChat, there was still no movement from Fan Ye.

Teng Ming sighed, found a nearby restaurant with the highest rating, and walked in. The staff asked:

“How many people?”

Teng Ming took a deep breath. “One person.” Then he let out a long sigh.

The restaurant was bustling. Fortunately, there were small tables for two, which spared him the embarrassment of sharing a table.

Teng Ming ate heartily or rather, he deliberately ate as if it were delicious.

While he was eating, he suddenly felt someone standing beside him.

“No need for a water refill, thank you,” Teng Ming said, turning his head to look.

He saw Fan Ye standing in front of the table, staring at him, a pair of eyes turned terrifying due to rage. “Why did you turn off your phone??”

Teng Ming’s anger flared up instantly, but he suppressed it. “It’s my phone. I turn it off when I want, and I turn it on when I want.”

Fan Ye’s fist hit the table with a “thud,” causing the plate holding the food to shake.

He panted heavily like a wild beast, glaring at Teng Ming.

Teng Ming, pretending to be calm, continued eating his rice with the side dishes.

The atmosphere was somewhat on the verge of breaking; people at the neighboring tables who were chatting happily all went quiet.

In those few seconds, both of their minds went a bit blank. It was precisely this few-second gap that prevented the rage from erupting immediately.

Fan Ye pulled Teng Ming’s arm. “Come out with me!”

Teng Ming shook off his hand and remained seated; the table shook again.

The two stared at each other.

Fan Ye said, “You won’t come out with me, right?”

Teng Ming said, “Why should I go out with you? I’m eating.”

After saying this, Teng Ming was a bit afraid that Fan Ye would say something like: “Because you are my wife.”

Fan Ye said, “Then keep eating.” Having said that, he turned and walked out of the restaurant.

Looking at his retreating back, Teng Ming felt the previous anger deflate like a leaking balloon.

Teng Ming sat back in his seat and continued eating, but the food no longer tasted as good as before. He sat there despondently. After about twenty minutes, he hadn’t even finished a bowl of rice but felt full.

He simply went to settle the bill. “How much is it?”

“Sir, you have already paid,” the girl at the cashier said.

Teng Ming said, “What? I didn’t pay.”

The cashier girl looked at the machine again and said, “It shows here that you have indeed paid the bill.”

Teng Ming couldn’t figure out what was going on and looked bewildered.

The cashier girl shouted to ask the girl who was just on shift what happened.

The girl who had just been on shift ran out of the kitchen and said to Teng Ming, “Hello, handsome. A gentleman just paid the bill for you.”

Teng Ming immediately thought of Fan Ye, but then felt it was impossible because he had clearly walked out in a huff just now; how could he have paid the bill for him?

Then maybe it was Li Shuren? Did he come here to eat too? Probably not.

Carrying this doubt, he walked out.

Quite a few people were sitting at the restaurant entrance, waiting in line for their numbers to be called.

As Teng Ming walked out, he glanced at the crowd and continued walking forward. Suddenly, he felt he had just seen a familiar face.

He stopped his pace and looked again 

Fan Ye was sitting alone outside the restaurant, smoking.

The two met eyes again.

By now, the anger in Fan Ye’s eyes had vanished. Even when there was anger, his eyes were full of charm, a kind of sexiness unique to men.

Undoubtedly, it must have been him who settled the bill just now.

Teng Ming’s feet moved a bit, then stopped. Subsequently, he simply turned his head and continued walking forward.

Before he had gone two steps, someone grabbed his arm.

“You saw me and still walked away? Is this how you treat the person who bought you dinner?” Fan Ye’s voice softened.

Teng Ming said, “I didn’t ask you to buy it for me.”

After these words, the atmosphere was a bit awkward.

Fan Ye sighed, walked in front of him, placed both hands on his shoulders, and then pulled him into a hug.

Teng Ming resisted for a moment, then submissively allowed himself to be held.

He smelled the scent of sweat on Fan Ye, which smelled exceptionally good when mixed with perfume.

“Sorry, my attitude was bad just now,” Fan Ye said.

Teng Ming’s head moved slightly in his embrace, but he didn’t speak.

“Be good, I know you must have been overthinking again,” his voice rang above his head. “I need to explain to you after I came out of the restroom, I stopped to watch someone making handmade ornaments. As a result, my phone was stolen. I chased the suspect for several blocks but lost them. When I went back, I couldn’t find you anymore. Tell me, wouldn’t I be worried?”

Hearing him say this, it seemed all of it was just his own wild imagination?

Teng Ming released the embrace and looked at him. “Then, have you eaten?”

Fan Ye shook his head. “I was only focused on finding you; how could I have time to eat?”

Fine, hearing this, Teng Ming suddenly felt a bit guilty, and his previous bad mood vanished.

“Then let’s just eat something here,” Teng Ming said, pulling Fan Ye to sit on a chair to the side and taking a queue.

Fan Ye said, “No, I feel like you’re still going to overthink something. I want to make it clear to you.”

Teng Ming felt helpless yet amused and said, “Haven’t you already made it clear? What else would I overthink?”

Fan Ye said, “After my phone was lost and I couldn’t find you, I borrowed phones from several people to call you. But every time I called, your phone was off. I remember your phone was at 90% battery when we left, and you don’t usually play with your phone much. That means you turned it off on purpose, which also means you were overthinking something.” Having said this, he looked at Teng Ming, his large eyes bright.

“Am I right?”

Teng Ming also looked at him. “Yes, you’re right!” Saying this, his hand reached out to touch his hair. “Your hair is all wet.”

Fan Ye swatted Teng Ming’s hand away and said, “It’s wet from sweat. My clothes have been wet and dried several times.” His tone was somewhat helpless and a bit annoyed.

Only then did Teng Ming feel he had truly done something stupid. He took Fan Ye’s hand and said, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It was my fault for being foolish. Forgive me, okay? I’ll treat you to dinner.”

Fan Ye’s hand gripped Teng Ming’s back, looking at him.

Fortunately, he was standing right there, safe and sound, and nothing had happened.

“I don’t want you to treat me to dinner,” Fan Ye said.

“Then what do I have to do for you to forgive me?” Teng Ming said, his tone slightly coaxing/pouting.

Fan Ye’s other hand pinched his cheek, and then he leaned into his ear and said a sentence.

Teng Ming’s expression showed shock for a moment, and then he cursed, “You pervert~!”

Just then, their number for a table for two was called. Teng Ming took the lead and stood up to go inside.

Fan Ye followed closely behind and said, “Look at you. You asked me what I wanted, I told you, and then you cursed at me!” Saying this, he stepped up to walk beside him and tried to hold his hand again.

Teng Ming brushed his hand off, signaling that this was a public place.

The brushed-off hand gripped back again, even tighter.

Tsk, so what if it’s a public place?

When the food arrived, Fan Ye ate ravenously.

Teng Ming laughed, “Hey, hey, eat slower. Do you not want your ‘male god’ image anymore?”

With food in his mouth, he said, “Male god… there are no male gods here. There is only a husband and a wife.”

Teng Ming laughed out loud. “You guys…”

Fan Ye took a sip of water. “Wife, do you want to eat some more?”

Teng Ming shook his head.

Not eating. Losing weight.

“By the way, how did you find me?” Teng Ming suddenly remembered this.

Fan Ye sighed and said, “You weren’t that hard to find. I just used someone else’s phone, looked at the top five restaurants on Dazhong Dianping, and checked them one by one.”

Teng Ming looked at Fan Ye, wanting to say something but unable to find the words.

He picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of meat from the plate, and put it into Fan Ye’s bowl. “Eat more, replenish your strength, so we can exercise tonight.”

Fan Ye was stunned, and after meeting Teng Ming’s eyes, a wicked smirk immediately appeared on his face.