To be honest, this man looked like someone of status, but there was also an indescribable gangster-like aura about him, the kind he could occasionally feel from Shan Yu.
Plus, he treated Chen Erhu, the greeter, as if he were invisible, and the way he glanced at him before he had even stepped out of the house—Chen Jian was very sensitive to these things. He didn’t seem like an easy person to deal with.
Chen Jian didn’t know if this person was related to Shan Yu or not, or if an enemy had come to their door. But there were free parking spaces on the street outside. To park in their courtyard without even being sure where to stay, and then go look at other places first—even during Qian Yu’s time at Zhenxi, Chen Jian had never seen a guest like this.
However, he didn’t plan to do anything, just to test the waters.
“If you’re staying at the guesthouse, the parking fee will be refunded to you…” Chen Jian hadn’t finished speaking when Mushroom rushed out of the house, barking, the fur on its back standing on end. With a weak pounce, it was about to charge out.
Chen Jian lifted his foot and scooped it up under its belly, stopping it in its tracks, lifting it off the ground.
Although he wasn’t being very polite to the guest, he wasn’t about to let the dog loose on them.
Mushroom’s momentum, however, was not affected. It hung from his shoe and continued to bark.
“We’ve had a lot of guests these past few days,” Chen Jian said. “Our parking spaces are a bit tight. Please understand.”
There were indeed several cars parked in the courtyard.
“Pay the parking fee,” the man said towards the car. “To that curly-haired one.”
Chen Jian didn’t know if he was being sensitive, but the words “curly-haired” were enunciated with particular clarity and emphasis.
You’re the one with curly hair!
But Chen Jian was quickly taken aback again. He hadn’t seen there was someone else in the car. It was only when he looked now that he realized there was probably someone lying in the back seat, who was now sitting up.
Then the back door opened, and a woman got out of the car.
…Damn.
It was a couple.
Not enemies.
The woman’s hair was a bit messy from sleeping, but you could tell she was very beautiful, and she didn’t have a trace of a gangster-like aura.
…Who cares about gangster-like auras anymore?
“How much is it?” the woman smiled at Chen Jian.
“Ten yuan,” Chen Erhu said from the side. “Cash is best, it’s easier to refund.”
The woman opened her wallet, took out a ten-yuan bill, and handed it to Chen Jian. “Here.”
Chen Erhu’s face immediately fell. The grand outsourced head of the Pigsty Security Group, treated like thin air.
He stretched his hand out in front of Chen Jian and took the banknote from the woman’s hand.
“Thanks, sister. Sorry for the trouble,” Chen Jian said.
“No trouble,” the woman said as she walked out of the courtyard gate, then turned back and asked with a smile, “What’s your surname?”
“My humble surname is Chen,” Chen Jian said.
“See you later,” the woman waved.
The two of them walked down the small path.
Chen Jian put Mushroom, who had been dangling from his foot, back on the ground and patted its head. “Stop barking all the time!”
Mushroom ran into the garden.
“Should we follow them?” Chen Erhu asked.
Although he didn’t know why Chen Jian’s attitude was like that at the beginning, and although Chen Jian’s attitude had changed later, Chen Erhu always focused on one point and never let it go.
“No need,” Chen Jian said. “It should be fine now.”
“Parking in our yard to look at other places, aren’t they looking for trouble?” Chen Erhu was persistent. For the first time in a long while, his spirits had returned.
Chen Jian found it quite moving.
But he still had to crush them.
“It is a bit strange, but not to that extent,” Chen Jian turned and walked back. “They might give you a bad review later.”
“You’re afraid of a bad review? With your attitude just now, they could have given one already if they wanted to,” Chen Erhu said.
Yes.
What to do.
From yesterday until now, he had been feeling a sense of instability.
Happy one moment, depressed the next.
Startled one moment, surprised the next…
Hu Pan was resting. Chen Jian went to the front desk to tell Sanbing that if that couple came back, regardless of whether they were staying or not, he must be notified.
If they were really no trouble, he had to make amends.
“Got it,” Sanbing made an OK gesture.
Chen Jian went back to his dorm to wash his face and sat on his bed in a daze for a while.
Lao Wu was lying in the room. He was on the afternoon shift today, but he always came over at noon to eat a staff meal and then take a nap.
“Did you get scolded?” Lao Wu asked him.
Why does everyone have this question.
What kind of expression was on his face?
“Huh?” Chen Jian looked at him. “Who scolded me?”
“How would I know? I’m asking you,” Lao Wu said. “You don’t look too good.”
“Isn’t this how I usually am?” Chen Jian said.
“Give me a break,” Lao Wu said. “Even when you’re not talking or smiling, you don’t look like this. If you don’t want to talk, then forget it.”
“Thanks,” Chen Jian stood up and patted Lao Wu.
“…You’re welcome,” Lao Wu was taken aback.
On his way out of the dormitory towards the office, he passed by the glass window in the corridor. Chen Jian looked at his reflection in the window, wanting to see what his expression was, but he couldn’t see clearly.
The office door was still ajar. He knocked.
“Come in,” Shan Yu’s voice sounded.
“Boss Shan,” Chen Jian pushed the door open and saw Shan Yu sitting at the coffee table, about to remove his bandage. He quickly walked over. “Let me.”
“Mmm,” Shan Yu replied.
Chen Jian sat down next to him, and while removing the bandage, he asked, “Why didn’t you call someone? How can you do this with one hand?”
“I’ll just use the children’s chopsticks to pick at it,” Shan Yu said. “It’s so simple.”
Chen Jian paused and turned to look at him.
“I don’t want to pay the nursing fee,” Shan Yu leaned back on the sofa. “I just wanted to try doing it myself.”
“Just disinfecting your hand and changing the gauze doesn’t warrant a nursing fee,” Chen Jian said.
Shan Yu smiled and didn’t speak.
“A car just came. I saw the license plate, it’s from your hometown,” Chen Jian said. “I was afraid it was… so I just…”
“You were afraid it was Fang Xu coming for revenge, so you pulled the people out of the car and beat them up,” Shan Yu said.
“…I’m not that violent,” Chen Jian said. “I just wasn’t very polite, but they’re probably just ordinary tourists.”
“What’s there to be afraid of,” Shan Yu said. “My attitude isn’t very good every day.”
Chen Jian looked at him and started to laugh.
“What kind of car was it?” Shan Yu asked.
“A Range Rover,” Chen Jian said. “The last three digits of the license plate are 520.”
“It’s not Fang Xu. Fang Xu wouldn’t dare to cause me trouble anymore,” Shan Yu said. “Don’t worry. The only thing that will take a bit of effort now is getting money from Qian Yu… If there’s nothing else tonight, let’s have a small meeting with everyone.”
“A meeting?” Chen Jian was taken aback. Besides the mobilization meeting before the opening, this was the first time Shan Yu had mentioned having a meeting.
“Mmm, to hand out some red envelopes,” Shan Yu said.
“What red envelopes?” Chen Jian lifted the gauze. The wound on Shan Yu’s palm still looked quite scary, but there was clearly less blood than yesterday.
“I got some money from Qian Yu, the utilities he owed and stuff, and that hundred thousand from Chen Dahu…” Shan Yu said.
“Chen Dahu really had a hundred thousand?” Chen Jian was shocked.
Shan Yu clicked his tongue and looked at him.
“He didn’t?” Chen Jian was confused.
“If I say he did, he did,” Shan Yu said.
“Can you do that?” Chen Jian was shocked again.
Shan Yu didn’t speak. After a while, he started to laugh. “You know what, Chen Jian?”
“What?” Chen Jian asked.
“You usually look pretty cool and aloof,” Shan Yu said.
And then?
…Alright, I get it.
Chen Jian lowered his head, took a cotton ball soaked in iodine, and gently dabbed it on Shan Yu’s palm.
Shan Yu’s fingers twitched. “It tickles a bit.”
“It’ll be fine in a moment…” Chen Jian held his fingers and continued to dab the wound, just a little faster.
But suddenly, he felt a little dazed.
It was just a simple action, much simpler than disinfecting the stent, but now, because his attention was focused on Shan Yu’s hand, it had become a bit…
When disinfecting the stent, there was basically no contact.
But now, Shan Yu’s hand was in his. He could feel the warmth of his hand, and every subtle movement of his fingers.
The feeling was very subtle, tense, flustered, and also had an indescribable sense of comfort and peace of mind.
This is…
Chen Jian let out a very small sigh.
“No need to blow on it, it doesn’t hurt,” Shan Yu said.
“I didn’t blow on it,” Chen Jian was taken aback.
It was… a sigh that came out of his nose.
Damn it!
The ringing of the phone in his pocket was a relief. He had never been so happy to answer a call.
Chen Jian took out his phone. It was Sanbing.
The moment he answered, he heard Sanbing’s lowered, rapid voice: “Are you upstairs? Those two asked me if the boss was on the fourth floor. I didn’t think and said yes, and then they went upstairs. I’m just letting you know, I’m coming up right now…”
“You just stay in the dorm when you come up, don’t come over yet,” Chen Jian said and hung up.
Those two probably weren’t enemies. What kind of enemy would send a smiling beauty over? It wasn’t a movie. Maybe they were Shan Yu’s friends.
“What’s up?” Shan Yu asked.
“Those two guests are coming up,” Chen Jian stood up and walked towards the door, closing the ajar door first. “They’re looking for the boss. Are they your friends?”
“Really?” Shan Yu frowned, seemingly thinking.
The next second, there was a knock on the office door.
Shan Yu gestured for Chen Jian to open the door.
Chen Jian opened the door.
Standing outside was the man from before, with the woman behind him.
“Boss Shan,” the man walked in. “We meet again.”
Shan Yu, sitting on the sofa, looked at him without speaking.
But Chen Jian could clearly see the surprise and… joy in Shan Yu’s eyes.
After at least three seconds, Shan Yu finally stood up and said, “Are you fucking crazy?”
“Why don’t you prescribe some medicine for me,” the man said.
“Chen Jian,” Shan Yu looked at the stunned Chen Jian and smiled. “This is my friend, Yue Lang. You can just call him Brother Lang. This beautiful sister is his wife, Yao Yi.”
Chen Jian had seen the name Yue Lang before. The bottle that had sent Chen Dahu to prison—the sender was Yue Lang.
“This is my manager, Chen Jian,” Shan Yu introduced again.
“We just met,” Yue Lang looked at Chen Jian and said with a smile. “Quite aloof.”
Please don’t say anymore.
“Brother Lang,” Chen Jian looked at Yue Lang, then at Yao Yi, hesitating whether to call her sister-in-law or by her name.
“Just call me Xiao Yi,” Yao Yi said with a smile.
“Sister Xiao Yi,” Chen Jian said.
“Hello, Manager!” Yao Yi waved at him with a beaming smile.
“First, take care of this hand of yours…” Yue Lang pointed at Shan Yu’s hand.
Shan Yu sat back down on the sofa. Chen Jian quickly went over, took a new cotton ball from the first-aid kit, soaked it in iodine, and, not caring if it tickled or hurt Shan Yu, quickly dabbed the wound in a line, then covered it with gauze.
“What’s wrong with you two,” Shan Yu looked at Yue Lang and Yao Yi. “If you’re coming, just let me know in advance. I just arrived, and you followed right after…”
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you in advance,” Yue Lang said.
Chen Jian wanted to call Liu Wu.
Little brother, come and see.
What a surprise.
This is a fucking surprise.
“Whose car did you drive? I haven’t seen it before,” Shan Yu asked.
“Hers,” Yue Lang pointed at Yao Yi. “New car, hasn’t been on a long trip much.”
Shan Yu sighed. “You two are really something.”
“We just went to look at those other guesthouses,” Yue Lang said. “You haven’t been in to see them yet, have you?”
“No,” Shan Yu said. “Are they nice?”
“Average,” Yue Lang said. “We looked around and picked for a while, but didn’t find a room we were satisfied with, so we came back.”
“Are you looking for trouble for me?” Shan Yu clicked his tongue.
“You’ve already found all the trouble for yourself, haven’t you?” Yue Lang said.
Chen Jian finished wrapping the bandage and put away the first-aid kit.
“I’ll go down first,” he looked at Shan Yu.
“Mmm,” Shan Yu nodded. “I’m going out for lunch with them later.”
“Mmm,” Chen Jian replied, then thought for a moment and asked, “That check-in…”
“You don’t have to worry about them,” Shan Yu said. “Just do your thing.”
“Alright,” Chen Jian looked at Yue Lang and Yao Yi. “Brother Lang, Sister Yi, you guys chat.”
“Go on, little brother,” Yao Yi said with a smile. “Remember to refund me the parking fee.”
“…Oh.” Chen Jian suddenly wanted to go over and bow to her. Sister, please don’t say anymore.
He quickly walked out of the office and closed the door.
He let out a soft sigh of relief.
“Chen Jian.” A head poked out from the dormitory side.
It was Sanbing.
Chen Jian walked over. “It’s fine. They’re Boss Shan’s friends.”
“Fuck,” Sanbing breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought they were here to cause trouble. That brother looks pretty tough. If it really came down to it, I probably couldn’t beat him.”
With Sanbing’s build, he probably couldn’t beat that sister either.
“Your imagination is a bit too rich, isn’t it?” Chen Jian laughed.
“I told you it was fine,” Lao Wu was sitting in the small living room of the dormitory. “That beautiful lady looks so gentle.”
“So are they staying?” Sanbing asked. “Which room has been arranged for them?”
“Waiting for Boss Shan to arrange it,” Chen Jian said. “Just put their luggage away first.”
“Boss Shan’s friend,” Sanbing said in a low voice as he walked downstairs with him, “looks like the same kind of person as him, very impressive.”
“Mmm,” Chen Jian replied.
Yes, Yue Lang looked like Shan Yu’s friend, the very close kind.
Downstairs, a delivery truck was parked in the courtyard. Chen Erhu was moving things. Chen Jian called Sanbing over to help put everything into storage.
“Erhu, go to the old town tomorrow,” Chen Jian said. “That fire safety training, you go. Take some notes and come back and teach us.”
“Alright,” Chen Erhu lifted his head, then lowered his voice. “I haven’t been to a class in a long time.”
“It’s fine. It probably won’t be as difficult as what you learn in class,” Chen Jian said. “You’ll definitely be fine. I wouldn’t be at ease if I sent someone else.”
“Alright,” Chen Erhu lifted his head again.
Chen Jian went inside. As he was checking the orders at the front desk, Shan Yu and the Yue Lang couple came out of the elevator.
Sanbing greeted them, “Boss Shan.”
“Arrange a room for them on the fourth floor,” Shan Yu walked over. “Closer to the office.”
“Alright, 410 then,” Sanbing said. “We’ll send their luggage up later.”
“Mmm,” Shan Yu nodded. “I’m going out with them. You don’t have to worry about my lunch.”
Where are you going to eat?
Chen Jian really wanted to ask, but he felt…
“Where are you guys going to eat?” Sanbing asked. “You have to go to the old town, right? We don’t have any particularly good restaurants here.”
“A farmhouse restaurant is fine. We’re already here, why eat at a fancy restaurant,” Shan Yu said.
Then let’s go to Old Zhang’s to eat fish.
“Then you can go to Boss Zhang’s to eat fish,” Sanbing said.
“That’s where I wanted to go,” Shan Yu looked at Chen Jian. “That…”
“The phone number?” Chen Jian took out his phone. “I’ll find it for you.”
“Just send it to me,” Shan Yu said. “And help me let him know.”
“Mmm,” Chen Jian replied.
Shan Yu rested his hand on the front desk counter and was silent for a second.
“Aren’t you going yet?” Sanbing asked. “If you’re late, his place will be crowded, and all the good fish will be gone.”
Shan Yu sighed and tapped his finger lightly on the counter. “Don’t forget.”
Chen Jian was about to speak, but Sanbing beat him to it. “How could he? Chen Jian has a good memory.”
Shan Yu laughed, turned, and quickly walked out with Yue Lang and the others.
“This fish is so delicious,” Yao Yi looked at the fish in her bowl. “I’m full, but I still want to eat more.”
“Go for a run outside for a couple of laps and then come back and eat more,” Yue Lang said.
“I can’t run,” Yao Yi said.
“I’ll carry you and run,” Yue Lang said.
“And then you can eat for me when we get back,” Yao Yi said.
“If you want to eat more, just come back tomorrow,” Shan Yu smiled.
“We’ll come back tonight,” Yue Lang said.
“You’ll eat the staff meal with me tonight,” Shan Yu said.
“You son of a bitch,” Yue Lang looked at him.
“Our Sister Zhao’s cooking is very delicious,” Shan Yu said. “If you want to eat fish, you can have the boss send a couple over later and have Sister Zhao cook them.”
“You…” Yue Lang frowned and thought for a long time. “Why don’t you just ask him to come out and eat with us?”
That would make him so awkward.
“Don’t worry about it,” Shan Yu said.
“Don’t worry about it!” Yao Yi slapped Yue Lang and said with a smile, “Did you hear that? Mind your own business when it comes to the boss’s affairs.”
“You two are so annoying. When are you leaving?” Shan Yu took out his phone, opened the chat with Chen Yuluoyan, and pondered.
“You’ll be annoyed for a while then. It wasn’t easy for us to come here. We want to go up the mountain to see the snow, go rafting in the icy stream…”
Shan Yu clicked his tongue and sent a message to Chen Jian.
[Fa Dan Ke Chen]: Have Old Zhang send two fish over later. Tell Sister Zhao we’re having fish tonight.
Chen Jian replied almost instantly.
[Chen Yuluoyan]: Okay.
Okay, my ass!
Does this manager have arthritis? Is typing so difficult?
Shan Yu threw his phone onto the chair next to him.
“Put it away,” Yao Yi pointed at his phone. “You’ll be looking for it again in a bit.”
Shan Yu took his phone and was about to put it in his pocket when it beeped again.
[Chen Yuluoyan]: Are you guys eating at the guesthouse tonight?
Is your arthritis cured?
[Fa Dan Ke Chen]: Yes.
