TAO | Chapter 68

The commotion had drawn quite a crowd of onlookers, who only dispersed once Jiang Zhan left.

Wei Xiaochi couldn’t help but worry about Jiang Zhan, fearing his temper might flare up and lead to a fight with the man from earlier.

Zhou Yun glanced at Wei Xiaochi with a complicated expression. “That guy—he’s not the same one who gave you the cooling patch last time, is he?”

Pulled from his thoughts, Wei Xiaochi shook his head nervously. “No, it’s not him. I’m sorry, Sister Yun, for causing trouble today.”

Zhou Yun sighed softly. “It’s not exactly your fault. The child started it, after all.” She hesitated before continuing gently, “But you know how it is in the service industry. Sometimes, we just have to put up with customers’ tempers.”

Wei Xiaochi’s heart sank. He feared he might lose his job and quickly reassured her, “I understand. It won’t happen again.”

Zhou Yun’s tone softened further. “Don’t worry, it’s not a big deal. But your friend—can he handle this on his own?”

That boy from earlier was clearly from a well-off family, dressed head-to-toe in branded clothes. Even his sneakers, according to one of the staff, were a limited edition pair worth over ten thousand yuan.

Zhou Yun didn’t understand much about luxury brands, but the staff had discussed the handsome friend of Wei Xiaochi when things weren’t too busy.

Wei Xiaochi wasn’t sure if Jiang Zhan could resolve the situation. His biggest concern was that Jiang Zhan’s fiery temper might escalate things.

Noticing his worry, Zhou Yun suggested, “Why don’t you go check on him? Just in case something happens.”

Wei Xiaochi had never left his post for personal matters, but thinking about Jiang Zhan’s volatile nature, he decided it was better to be safe than sorry.

“I’ll go take a look,” he said apologetically, guilt written all over his face. “I’ll be back soon. It won’t take long.”

Zhou Yun took the mascot headpiece from him. “Go ahead. Be careful.”

Nodding quickly, Wei Xiaochi turned to leave, the bulky costume slowing his steps. Before he could go far, Jiang Zhan was already coming back.

The alpha crossed the street in long strides, walking straight toward him.

Jiang Zhan wore a relaxed expression. “It’s taken care of.”

Wei Xiaochi stared in disbelief. “That fast?”

Jiang Zhan raised an eyebrow, his tone proud. “What did you expect?”

Zhou Yun glanced across the street and saw that the troublesome family hadn’t followed. Relieved, she asked, “You didn’t get into a fight, did you?”

Looking annoyed, Jiang Zhan replied, “No. Do I seem that violent to you?”

Wei Xiaochi: …

Zhou Yun was curious. “How did you settle it?”

“It wasn’t a big deal. They just wanted to see if they could scam some money out of us,” Jiang Zhan scoffed.

Wei Xiaochi asked nervously, “Did you give them money?”

“I’d sooner throw my money into the streets than hand it over to people like that,” Jiang Zhan said, sneering. “My sister knows plenty of people in the media. I told them if they dared make a scene, I’d pull the surveillance footage and put it online.”

The facts were clear—a diligent, hard-working student versus a spoiled troublemaking kid. It wouldn’t take long for public opinion to lean in their favor.

“If this turned into an online scandal, they’d be utterly humiliated,” Jiang Zhan added. “That’s why I pulled them aside to talk privately. The more people watching, the worse they’d act. It could’ve spiraled into a mess with videos going online.”

Zhou Yun was finally reassured. “I’m glad it’s resolved. Just be more careful around kids in the future.”

Jiang Zhan frowned, ready to retort, but Wei Xiaochi quickly cut him off.

He forced a smile at Zhou Yun. “Got it, Sister Yun.”

Zhou Yun glanced at Jiang Zhan but said nothing more, handing the mascot headpiece back to Wei Xiaochi before heading into the milk tea shop.

The moment she was out of earshot, Jiang Zhan, who had been holding back for two hours, finally exploded. “What kind of lousy job is this? Wearing such thick clothes in the middle of summer, and you even got hit! Take this off and come home with me!”

From the moment he saw Wei Xiaochi in that costume, Jiang Zhan had wanted him to quit.

The pay wasn’t worth it, and he had to suffer for it.

Wei Xiaochi’s brow furrowed as he hurriedly tugged Jiang Zhan’s arm, lowering his voice in a panic. “Keep your voice down! Don’t let Sister Yun hear you.”

Jiang Zhan thought, So what if she hears? But seeing Wei Xiaochi’s anxious face, he held his tongue.

Looking at the alpha’s scowling face, Wei Xiaochi said quietly, “Maybe… you should go home.”

“You’re coming with me,” Jiang Zhan insisted, reaching to unzip the costume from the back.

Wei Xiaochi quickly dodged, frustration and helplessness welling up. He pleaded, “Just leave me alone, okay? I’m not hot.”

Jiang Zhan glared at him. “Sweat’s pouring down your face, and you’re telling me you’re not hot? All this for a little money? Fine, tutor me instead. How much did Li Suilin pay you for tutoring? I’ll pay triple.”

Wei Xiaochi froze for a moment, then shook his head slightly. “I don’t charge you for tutoring.”

His face and neck were flushed red from the heat, and seeing this made Jiang Zhan restless.

“At least take this thing off. We’ll talk at home,” Jiang Zhan said, reaching for the zipper again.

But Wei Xiaochi suddenly stopped him, softly calling his name, “Jiang Zhan.”

Jiang Zhan froze. In all the time they’d known each other, Wei Xiaochi had never called him by name.

Wei Xiaochi pressed his dry, pale lips together. “You can’t use your parents’ money to support me.”

“I have my own hands and feet. If I need money, I’ll earn it myself. I can’t keep spending yours, especially since it’s not even money you earned.”

Lowering his eyes, he added in a quiet voice, “Jiang Zhan, we really aren’t a good match.”

It was as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over Jiang Zhan’s head. He froze for a good five or six seconds.

The alpha reined in his domineering aura, snatched a stack of flyers from Wei Xiaochi, and began handing them out to passersby at lightning speed, almost as if trying to hide his feelings.

The pedestrians, suddenly handed flyers for no reason: ???

In a flurry of movement, Jiang Zhan quickly distributed the entire stack.

Many passersby, left baffled by his speed, marveled at his efficiency. Is this the legendary Phantom Hand technique?

When he was done, Jiang Zhan saw that Wei Xiaochi was still watching him. He averted his gaze, looking flustered.

Despite his awkwardness, he still tried to act tough, gruffly asking, “What are you staring at me for?”

As if he hadn’t heard Wei Xiaochi’s earlier words about breaking up, Jiang Zhan grabbed another stack of flyers and said, “You stand here to draw customers; I’ll… hand out the flyers.”

The last few words came out softer and softer.

Seeing Wei Xiaochi stay silent, Jiang Zhan kept glancing at him while pretending to be focused on his task.

Wei Xiaochi sighed softly, barely audible, and put the mascot headpiece back on.

For working in the summer heat, employees received an extra fifteen yuan, bringing the total pay for the day to 115 yuan.

When Wei Xiaochi collected his earnings, he looked at the sweaty alpha and asked softly, “Do you want some milk tea?”

Jiang Zhan didn’t reply or meet his eyes, only shaking his head.

Jiang Zhan had also come by bike. On the way home, he followed behind Wei Xiaochi, neither of them saying a word.

At the entrance to Wei Xiaochi’s apartment complex, he said goodbye without any hugs or kisses. Jiang Zhan didn’t try to stop him, and Wei Xiaochi wheeled his bike inside.

That evening, Zhou Yun called to tell Wei Xiaochi not to come in the next day because the shop would be filming an advertisement.

Zhou Yun planned to hire a university student for the day instead, as it would align better with the brand’s public image.

Though Wei Xiaochi was an adult, he was still a high school student, and with the intense pressure of college entrance exam prep approaching, any potential controversy from featuring him in an ad wasn’t worth it.

For safety’s sake, Zhou Yun gave him the day off, adding before hanging up, “See you next Saturday. Get some rest and study well.”

“I understand. Thank you, Sister Yun,” Wei Xiaochi replied.

After hanging up, he returned to his desk to tutor the twins on their homework.

That night, Jiang Zhan called and, after much hesitation, asked for “one last date.”

The finality in his tone made Wei Xiaochi pause before he quietly agreed.

Their last date began. And for them, everything was about to change.

The date itself was ordinary, almost mundane. Jiang Zhan invited Wei Xiaochi to watch a movie—a Hollywood action blockbuster, filled with explosions and popcorn-worthy moments. The runtime was over two hours, and Jiang Zhan had booked the 10:00 AM show. By the time it ended, they could have lunch together.

This time, Jiang Zhan didn’t come to pick up Wei Xiaochi at the gate of his apartment complex. Fortunately, the cinema wasn’t far from his house—just a half-hour ride on the subway.

Worried about being late, Wei Xiaochi left home an hour early. Once he arrived at the theater entrance, he sent Jiang Zhan a message to let him know he was there.

Two minutes later, Jiang Zhan called. “I’ll be late. I might not make it in time. If the movie starts, just go in without me.”

Then he sent a QR code over WeChat and told Wei Xiaochi to scan it at the ticket machine to collect their tickets.

This was Wei Xiaochi’s first visit to a cinema since childhood. The only other time was during elementary school when the school organized an outing to watch an educational film.

Today, the place was packed with people excited about the Hollywood blockbuster. Long lines stretched before the ticket machines.

Hearing the announcement that tickets could still be collected up to five minutes before the screening, Wei Xiaochi checked the time. Twenty minutes remained—plenty of time.

He didn’t queue immediately. Instead, he stood nearby and quietly observed how others operated the machines. After watching a couple of people go through the process, he got the gist and then joined the line.

When it was his turn, the machine spat out two tickets. At first, he assumed they were for him and Jiang Zhan, but the colors were different. Examining them closely, he realized one was a movie ticket, and the other was a voucher for popcorn and a drink.

Noticing a crowd forming at the concession counter, with everyone walking away holding tubs of popcorn, Wei Xiaochi silently joined that queue as well.

By the time the movie was about to start, Jiang Zhan still hadn’t arrived. Left with no other choice, Wei Xiaochi went into the theater alone, following the crowd to find his seat.

Ten minutes passed. Jiang Zhan didn’t show up.

Half an hour into the movie, there was still no sign of him.

After forty minutes, worry began to creep in. Taking advantage of a quieter moment in the film, Wei Xiaochi slipped out of the theater to call him.

The phone rang twice before Jiang Zhan answered.

“There’s a traffic jam on my end,” he said. “You don’t have to wait for me. Just watch the movie.”

“Alright,” Wei Xiaochi replied.

The movie ended after more than two hours, and Jiang Zhan still hadn’t appeared.

Standing at the theater entrance, holding a large tub of unfinished popcorn, Wei Xiaochi called Jiang Zhan again.

This time, Jiang Zhan sounded irritated. “My sister needed me to grab something for her at the last minute. Did you finish the movie?”

“Yeah,” Wei Xiaochi said.

“Good. Go across the street to a restaurant called Suse. I reserved a table there. Just tell the host my name when you get there, and wait for me.”

“Suse?” Wei Xiaochi repeated, confused.

“Yeah, su as in fate,” Jiang Zhan hesitated, then corrected himself, “Or maybe it’s the su in dormitory. And the se is… uh, color.”

“…”

“It’s definitely the su in fate,” Jiang Zhan muttered, flustered.

Curious about the unusual restaurant name, Wei Xiaochi crossed the street to look for Suse.

The restaurant was hard to miss. Its exterior featured a row of tall French windows bordered by intricate wrought-iron railings. Red bricks and a checkered glass door gave it a charming, vintage 1930s aesthetic.

As he approached, a server in a neatly pressed suit and bowtie opened the door with a polite smile. “Welcome, sir. How many in your party? Do you have a reservation?”

“Yes,” Wei Xiaochi answered, feeling slightly out of place. “Under the name Jiang Zhan.”

The server turned to the front desk and confirmed the reservation. “Ah, ‘Old Splendor,’” the host said to the server, who then gestured for Wei Xiaochi to follow. “This way, please.”

The private booth, named “Old Splendor,” was tucked behind a screen decorated in an antique style. The deep red wallpaper and scarlet sofa gave the room a warm, vintage ambiance. A long wooden table, covered with a lace tablecloth, was set with fine china edged in gold patterns. A green-shaded brass table lamp completed the scene, dangling a golden chain.

The walls were adorned with old photographs and hand-painted floral and butterfly designs. Every detail, from the chairs to the tea sets, seemed to tell a story of a bygone era.

The server poured a glass of soda water for him and then left, leaving the space quiet and secluded.

Curious, Wei Xiaochi tugged lightly at the gold chain hanging from the lamp. With a click, the lamp turned on, casting a soft glow. Panicking slightly, he quickly turned it off and sat upright, waiting nervously.

Time ticked by. Watching the clock’s hands inch forward, he grew more uneasy.

Ten minutes later, the server returned with a dark tray bearing a steak, cream soup, and grilled fish.

“This isn’t mine,” Wei Xiaochi said, confused. “Did you deliver it to the wrong table?”

The server smiled. “This is for ‘Old Splendor.’ Mr. Jiang ordered it for you yesterday.”

Awkwardly, he asked, “Is this for one person or two?”

“One. Mr. Jiang said for you to eat first.”

“Oh… okay.”

After the server left, Wei Xiaochi began eating, cutting into the steak with a knife and fork. Halfway through, guilt tugged at him, and he called Jiang Zhan again.

Jiang Zhan gave the same excuse, saying he didn’t know when he’d arrive and told him to finish his meal.

After the main course came dessert—three small portions served on delicate plates.

By the time he finished eating, it was 1:30 PM, and Jiang Zhan still hadn’t shown up.

Instead, Jiang Zhan called and asked him to walk to a library a kilometer away to wait for him. While there, he could also pick up some basic practice books for Jiang Zhan’s studies.

Carrying the half-eaten tub of popcorn, Wei Xiaochi made his way to the library.

By the time Jiang Zhan arrived at the library, it was 6:30 PM.

Waiting at the entrance, Wei Xiaochi saw the alpha approaching, looking disheveled and out of breath. Sweat glistened on his forehead, his damp hair sticking to his skin. The defined lines of his face caught the attention of passersby, who couldn’t help but steal glances.

Seeing him, Jiang Zhan straightened up, his dark eyes locking onto Wei Xiaochi’s face.

Without a word, Wei Xiaochi handed him the practice books he’d bought.

Jiang Zhan barely glanced at them before slipping something into Wei Xiaochi’s palm—a few crumpled bills.

When Wei Xiaochi opened his hand and saw the money, he looked at Jiang Zhan in confusion.

Avoiding his gaze, Jiang Zhan said in a low voice, “I earned this myself. It’s for you.”

Author’s Note:

Jiang Zhan has learned how to earn money.

Also, this couple’s overreactions are quite amusing.

The first time Jiang Zhan called Wei Xiaochi by his full name, Xiaochi froze.

The first time Wei Xiaochi called Jiang Zhan by his full name, Jiang Zhan froze.

What a pair of clueless kids. (Dog head emoji)