When Chen Jian asked the question, it came out naturally—just a casual remark.
But Shan Yu’s answer made him pause and stop talking.
My question didn’t cross any lines.
You’re the one whose answer did.
To avoid an awkward silence, Chen Jian lowered his head and took a big bite of his burger, chewing in wordless quiet.
“I was really naughty as a kid,” Shan Yu didn’t go on eating; he turned his face to look at the lights downstairs. “So my dad made lots of rules for me. Rules for eating, rules for sleeping, rules for studying…”
Naughty as a kid—and not much has changed now.
Looks like those rules weren’t very effective.
“The only rule I still follow is ‘no talking while eating,’” Shan Yu said.
“Why?” Chen Jian asked.
“Because it’s the easiest one to follow.” Shan Yu picked up his burger and started eating.
Chen Jian couldn’t help laughing.
Shan Yu smiled without replying and continued eating.
Chen Jian finished the other half of his burger in two bites, took a sip of cola, leaned back, thought a moment, and said, “I don’t think we had many rules at home. My dad and mom didn’t really ‘educate’ me much.”
“Sometimes leading by example works better than lecturing,” Shan Yu said. He finished the burger and put all the wrappers back into the takeout bag. “You can see traces of your parents in you. They’re good people. Very kind.”
“And you…” Chen Jian didn’t finish.
“I have traces of my parents too,” Shan Yu said.
Bandit vibe?
Even in his head, Chen Jian tiptoed around that thought.
“Well-read and well-mannered,” Shan Yu said.
“Oh, wow.” Chen Jian couldn’t hold it in and laughed.
“Got a problem with that?” Shan Yu clicked his tongue.
“No,” Chen Jian said with a smile.
Thinking it over, even though Shan Yu’s self-assessment was half-joking, it wasn’t entirely baseless in Chen Jian’s eyes. Whether he was “well-read,” who knew—his highest education was high school—but when Shan Yu wasn’t provoked, he was indeed “well-mannered.”
As long as one didn’t push him, Shan Yu was also kind—and meticulous.
“Are your parents teachers?” Chen Jian followed the ‘well-read’ thread.
“Not both. My dad is a…” Shan Yu paused, looked at him. “A university professor.”
“…Damn.” Chen Jian was stunned. “For real?”
“My mom runs a company,” Shan Yu added.
“Ah…” Chen Jian stayed stunned.
Shan Yu smiled. “What?”
“Just feels… kind of amazing,” Chen Jian thought for a moment. “Like a world that’s very far from mine.”
“Not that far,” Shan Yu said. “I’m sitting right in front of you.”
“Seen that way…” Chen Jian smiled, “true.”
Shan Yu didn’t say more. He sipped his cola slowly, gazing downstairs.
Chen Jian stayed quiet too, then suddenly slurped two big gulps and drained his cup.
When it came to family, Shan Yu didn’t really avoid the topic—he spoke casually, simply.
But Chen Jian didn’t keep digging.
Shan Yu introduced his parents but didn’t mention their relationship. During their time at Dayin, Shan Yu hadn’t seemed to contact home, and from what Liu Wu implied, it sounded like his parents didn’t even know where he was or what he was doing.
“Are you helping cover Hu Pan’s shift tonight?” Shan Yu asked.
“Mm,” Chen Jian nodded. “Feels like she really wants to go to the barbecue. Liu Wu invited her.”
“Why aren’t you going?” Shan Yu glanced at him. “No way Liu Wu didn’t invite you.”
“I’m on duty,” Chen Jian said. “No one at the front desk.”
“I’ll take the shift,” Shan Yu said.
“…If Hu Pan hears that, she won’t go to the barbecue,” Chen Jian said. “She’ll run back immediately to take over.”
“Ah…” Shan Yu sighed. “Such is the life of a boss.”
“I’m off to do my shift then.” Chen Jian stood and looked down. “Sanbing’s finished his patrol—probably eating now. With the holiday, lots of people just arrived and only now are looking for a place to stay…”
“Such is the life of a manager,” Shan Yu sighed too, reclining with his arms behind his head. “Go on, money-grubber. I’ll sleep soon—I’m a bit tired today.”
“Need me to keep an eye on…” Chen Jian paused. “The café?”
“Nothing will happen tonight,” Shan Yu said. “Who knows when that barbecue crowd will be back. It’s so lively—if you’re sleepy, just sleep.”
“Mm,” Chen Jian answered.
On the way downstairs, he saw that Sanbing wasn’t eating—he was standing in the courtyard speaking to a young man with a hiking backpack.
Chen Jian walked out. Seeing him, Sanbing waved. “Manager, a guest.”
“Good evening,” Chen Jian greeted.
The man looked at him and asked flatly, “Is the mountain trail far from here?”
“Not far,” Chen Jian pointed inward. “Take the road at the gate—you’ll hit the trail in about five minutes.”
“Alright.” The man turned and walked into the lobby. “One standard room.”
“Go eat,” Chen Jian patted Sanbing’s arm. Watching the man’s back, he thought: he looks like a hiker, but something feels off. His mood seemed low.
“Just you?” Chen Jian stepped to the front desk. “ID, please.”
“Just me.” The man handed over his ID.
Chen Jian glanced quickly. It matched the person—city resident. Seemed fine, but he still felt uneasy.
“I’ll put you in roo—” Chen Jian began.
“Fine,” the man said.
“Did you drive here?” Chen Jian asked.
“Mm. Motorcycle’s parked in your courtyard,” the man said.
“Okay.” Chen Jian nodded. Plenty of moto-tourers came through here.
He assigned the man to a first-floor room—right behind the front desk—so they could respond quickly if anything happened.
After the man went in, Chen Jian looped into the garden, flashlight in hand, pretending to patrol. Passing outside the man’s window, he saw the curtains were still open; the guy was sitting against the headboard on his phone.
Looked fine again, from that angle.
Maybe just an office worker drained by his job.
By contrast, the Happy Beans were out “absorbing the energy of heaven and earth”—gone all day without rest, and only staggered back from their barbecue around two in the morning.
To Chen Jian’s relief, though they’d clearly been drinking and were hyped, they stayed quiet—no shouting.
As they passed the front desk, they left two boxes of grilled meat.
“Not leftovers,” one boy said. “We grilled them specially for you. And for Sister Zhao—the marinade she made was amazing. Let her try some too.”
“Thanks,” Chen Jian smiled. “How was it?”
“Great!” another boy slumped onto the counter. “The night view’s beautiful—you can see the Milky Way here. Air’s amazing.”
“Rest up. If you’re hiking tomorrow, you’ll need an early start,” Chen Jian said.
“Good night, Manager,” a few Beans said as they held each other up the stairs.
After a while, Hu Pan came back radiant. “Manager, go rest.”
“It’s fine,” Chen Jian said. “Go sleep—I’ll just finish the shift.”
“No need, no need,” Hu Pan waved. “I’m full and need to digest. Go to sleep now and I’ll explode.”
Chen Jian looked at her.
“I’m not drunk,” she said, flicking her hand. “That little beer? Two trips to the bathroom and it’s gone.”
“Alright then,” he said. Her eyes were bright; she seemed fine. He lowered his voice: “We just checked in a 102—feels a bit… off, like he’s in a bad mood. Keep an ear out.”
“Mm.” She glanced toward 102. “Male or female?”
“Male,” Chen Jian said. “Whatever happens, don’t handle it alone. Call me.”
“Got it,” she smiled. “You act like my real older brother.”
Back in the dorm, Chen Jian tidied up and lay down.
Maybe because bedtime had passed already, he couldn’t sleep. Maybe coffee. Maybe the cola.
His phone pinged.
It was a message from Hu Pan:
[Who are you]: 102 is snoring like an earthquake. I can hear it at the front desk.
[Chen Yuluoyan]: Okay. If nothing’s up, get some rest.
After sending that, drowsiness finally hit. Maybe just knowing 102 was sleeping normally relaxed him.
Truly a worrywart. The boss can’t sleep because of insomnia; the manager can’t sleep because of guests.
Chen Jian clicked his tongue and closed his eyes.
—
The next day was the Beans’ hiking day. According to Big Bean Liu’s plan, gather at 8 for breakfast and set out at 8:30. By 8:30, half of them were still asleep.
“Didn’t I warn you?” Chen Jian held a cup of soy milk. “If they had a barbecue the night before, don’t expect them up before ten.”
“If they couldn’t get up for class, I’d understand,” Liu Wu said through a mouthful of noodles. “But for fun? They still can’t get up… I’ll go knock on doors.”
“Does your family… not have a ‘no talking while eating’ rule?” Chen Jian asked.
“That’s my aunt’s family,” Liu Wu said, still eating. “We chat at meals at my house. Otherwise it’s boring.”
Chen Jian smiled silently.
“But let me tell you,” Liu Wu leaned in and whispered, “only my cousin had to keep quiet at the table. He was sickly as a kid—and a picky eater—always babbling, so my uncle banned him from talking during meals.”
Chen Jian blinked, then whispered back, “So only he had to keep quiet in that whole family?”
“Right.” Liu Wu nodded. “Among all our relatives, only him.”
Chen Jian couldn’t help laughing. “There’s a rule like that? A bit too… targeted.”
“Didn’t shut him up, either,” Liu Wu shook his head.
Shan Yu also woke late today—never called for breakfast.
Around ten, after the Beans finally marched out, Chen Jian did a loop of the courtyard, then headed upstairs—figured he’d check if Shan Yu was awake on the fourth floor.
“Manager Chen,” Hu Pan suddenly leaned out from the front desk, phone in hand, and beckoned. “Manager…”
“Mm?” Chen Jian walked over.
“Hello, you’re with—” Hu Pan had the phone to her ear, then stopped. “They hung up.”
“What is it?” Chen Jian asked.
“Sounded like an auntie. She asked if college students checked in yesterday,” Hu Pan said. “I thought she was a parent and asked who she was looking for. She said the boss.”
“The boss?” Chen Jian blinked.
“Yeah, weird. Definitely sounded like a student’s parent, but asked for the boss,” Hu Pan frowned. “I said the boss went out today and she could speak to the manager. Then she hung up.”
“Didn’t say which student’s parent?” Chen Jian asked.
“I didn’t even answer whether we had college students,” Hu Pan said. “I just asked who she wanted.”
Chen Jian was quiet for a moment. “If she calls again, say the boss went to the city. Ask her to leave a name and number.”
“Okay,” Hu Pan nodded.
“And,” Chen Jian added, “if she asks, our boss’s surname is Chen.”
Hu Pan paused, then got it right away. “Got it. Name is Chen Jian.”
“Mm,” Chen Jian smiled.
Probably because the Beans were on the third floor, Shan Yu had slept in the office bedroom. When Chen Jian knocked, he had just gotten up—still in pajamas.
“Did I wake you?” Chen Jian asked.
“No,” Shan Yu leaned back on the sofa and yawned. “My dear cousin called before heading out—told me they wouldn’t eat lunch here and would be back for dinner.”
“…Did he need to tell you that?” Chen Jian asked.
“Why else do I find him annoying,” Shan Yu clicked his tongue.
“There’s something a bit odd,” Chen Jian said. “Wanted to tell you right away.”
“Mm.” Shan Yu looked at him.
“Hu Pan just got a call at the front desk…” Chen Jian relayed what happened. “Don’t know if she’ll call back. Anyway, I told Hu Pan: if asked, say the boss is Chen Jian.”
“Ah, I’ve been fired again,” Shan Yu laughed.
“Do you know who that ‘auntie’ is?” Chen Jian asked. “What should we do if she calls again?”
Shan Yu leaned his head back and let out a long sigh. “Liu Wu really knows how to cause me trouble…”
“Liu Wu’s mom?” Chen Jian asked.
“If not his mom, then mine,” Shan Yu frowned. “I knew he’d slip—his brain and mouth are both sieves.”
Chen Jian said nothing. He remembered Shan Yu had mentioned before that both families had told Liu Wu not to hang out with Shan Yu.
“If she calls again, you pick up,” Shan Yu said.
“What should I say?” Chen Jian asked.
“Don’t know,” Shan Yu said. “Use your judgment, Boss.”
“Boss,” Hu Pan handed over the phone, hitting mute. “It’s that auntie again—but she seems to know who the boss is…”
“I’ll wing it first,” Chen Jian bit his lip.
Playing manager was one thing; impersonating the boss to deal with the boss’s elders—that was stressful just thinking about it.
And the boss hadn’t given any clear instructions.
He cleared his throat and signaled. Hu Pan unmuted. He took a breath and tried to sound calm. “Hello, may I ask—”
“Hello,” came a pleasant woman’s voice. “Please put Shan Yu on the line.”
So much for pretending.
Exposed before it even started.
“There’s no one named Shan Yu here,” Chen Jian said, not sure what else to say. “Did you dial the wrong number?”
“What’s your surname?” the aunt asked.
“Surname Chen,” Chen Jian felt his palms sweat. Just then, the elevator doors opened and Shan Yu stepped out. He had the urge to drag him over and shove the phone into his hand.
“Are you the manager? The store manager? Or the floor lead?” the aunt pressed.
Don’t answer. Don’t get trapped. Do not take the bait.
“I’m the owner here,” Chen Jian said, standing his ground.
Shan Yu walked over and leaned on the front desk, watching him.
“She doesn’t buy it,” Hu Pan whispered to Shan Yu.
Shan Yu clicked his tongue.
“How much do you make a month, kid?” the aunt said. “Do you know who I am? Do you know what this is about? You willing to shoulder responsibility for him?”
“Ma’am, how about this,” Chen Jian said. Pretending was pointless—the other side believed none of it. He could only sell Shan Yu out. “Leave your number and I’ll have him call you back when he returns.”
Chen Jian glanced at Shan Yu as he said it.
Shan Yu nodded.
“Put him on,” the aunt said. She had been friendly the whole time, but this sentence carried a trace of sternness—a note of command.
Honestly, Chen Jian was now certain the caller was Shan Yu’s mother. That calm tone with pressure under it—it was exactly like Shan Yu.
Shan Yu finally sighed and reached out his hand. “Give it to me.”
Chen Jian quickly handed him the phone.
“Hello,” Shan Yu said into the receiver.
“How long are you planning to hide?” his mother’s voice came through—familiar, but with a hint of strangeness.
“I’ll call you back in a bit,” Shan Yu said.
“Talk now,” his mother said.
“I’m in a room full of people,” Shan Yu said. “It’s inconvenient.”
“Go to the side then,” she said.
“How?” Shan Yu looked at the phone in front of him. “You called our fax line.”
“Give me your new number,” she said. “I’ll call your cell.”
Shan Yu said nothing.
“Then stay there and share the call with your staff,” his mother said.
