Yan Yan noticed that Zhuang Yiyun was unsure how to respond, so he considerately stepped in to answer. He skillfully blurred the focus, saying, “Actually, my mother and his mother were classmates.”
“Wow, childhood friends! No wonder they got married so suddenly. Turns out they’ve known each other since they were kids.”
Yan Yan thought, ‘Perfect, you’re really Laozi’s good boys, handling conversation like pros.’
“Listen to yourself call them childhood friends, but our team leader and little Yan are more like, childhood sweethearts! Hey, Xiao Yan, what grade are you in?”
“I’m still in school, I’m a senior this year.”
“Wow…” The members of Group Six burst into loud exclamations. A female member called out to Zhuang Yiyun, “Team leader, are you even human? You got together before graduating college? I never expected you’re this kind of person! Just like the saying, ‘cold on the outside, but warm on the inside’!”
“What do you mean ‘warm on the inside’? This is love, that’s how love is!”
Everyone burst into laughter. Zhuang Yiyun’s image crumbled in an instant, leaving him flustered. He hadn’t anticipated such an underlying issue when he looked for Yan Yan. If they didn’t have an agreement, it did sound a bit beastly; after all, Yan Yan was still a student, hadn’t ventured into the outside world, yet they were married.
To alleviate the awkwardness, he clenched his fist and coughed softly. When he turned his head, he directly faced Yan Yan’s teasing expression. Yan Yan’s eyes sparkled, his cheeks tinged pink. Despite not having drunk a drop of alcohol, his face was already red.
Both averted their gazes, feeling a bit bashful. Yan Yan then noticed the quietly observing person again and impulsively spoke amidst the teasing laughter, “You’re all my gege’s close colleagues but I haven’t had the chance to meet everyone…”
While he spoke, his gaze flicked over that person’s face. The person’s brows furrowed even more. Others remained enthusiastic, introducing themselves one by one to Yan Yan. Soon, it was the turn of the last person.
He remained silent, and the colleague next to him nudged him and reminded him, “Dr. Luan.”
As such, Luan Qing still stood at the back of the crowd. He showed no intention of stepping forward, his tone cold as he offered his name, “Luan Qing.”
“The surname Luan is so rare. It sounds lovely,” Yan Yan’s tone was slow and gentle, yet in his heart, he had already poked this person harshly. He had recognized this voice; this was the person who had spoiled his plans on Christmas Eve.
Goodness, he had an actual rival in love. So, it wasn’t just a coincidence on Christmas Eve; he had been deliberately “sabotaged”.
Luan Qing didn’t respond to Yan Yan’s words. Zhong Lu, the most extroverted and lively member of Group Six, instinctively pitched in, “Luan is quite an uncommon surname, and it sounds wonderful. It’s often found in Yunnan and Dr. Luan is from Yunnan.”
As Zhong Lu spoke, he intentionally drew near and spoke in a volume pretending to be secretive, but it was audible to everyone, “Dr. Luan is rather reserved. He’s the quietest one in our team besides the Team Leader. We all call him the ‘second in command’ of Team Leader Zhuang, so don’t mind, Xiao Yan.”
Yan Yan quickly shook his head, smiling, “I can adapt to a ‘brother in law’ let alone ‘second in command.’”
“Hahaha, that’s true. Leader Zhuang, did you hear that? Even your husband is mocking you!”
“Ahem, ahem.” Colleagues nearby saw that Zhong Lu was being too open and reminded him in solidarity.
“Are you all afraid of gege? He won’t mind. He may look stern, but he’s actually the softest. Besides, I am his husband, and I really am teasing him.”
Yan Yan moved both his hands closer, gently pulling Zhuang Yiyun’s elbow. He smiled with his eyes narrowed, asking him like a spoiled child, “Isn’t that right, gege?”
“Wow!!!”
“Xiao Yan, it’s only natural for you to capture the highest flower of Group Six. No wonder Team Leader Zhuang couldn’t resist.”
Zhuang Yiyun sighed helplessly, summoning a small smile. Afraid Yan Yan might continue to tug at his sleeve, he grabbed his hand to prevent it. To others, this was yet another piece of evidence of their affection, and a girl next to them was whispering to her friend, “Heaven is rewarding me for staring at the team leader’s ring for three days. Turns out, he was lighting the way for me. ‘Yun-Qing’ has no future, Yun-Yan is the way to go!”
Yun-Qing… Yan Yan’s gaze shifted from Zhuang Yiyun’s shoulder and landed on Luan Qing, who was retreating. They had CP fans, so his brief display of affection earlier was rather restrained. He still smiled, but the warmth in his eyes had faded.
“Gege, Dr. Luan left. He seems displeased,” Yan Yan whispered by Zhuang Yiyun’s ear.
Zhuang Yiyun’s hand paused briefly while holding his drink but he didn’t turn to look.
“It’s alright, he’s not a fan of such gatherings.”
Both were speaking in hushed tones, and the others had good sense to step surrounding them. As people dispersed, the company’s high-ranking officials approached Zhuang Yiyun for a chat. Yan Yan sensibly didn’t cling to him, instead seeking out Zhong Lu, with whom he had just conversed the most.
Usually, Zhong Lu was suppressed by the higher-ups in their team, but now he seemed like a fish in water. He was delighted when Yan Yan approached him and enthusiastically guided him through the buffet, introducing dishes he had found delicious.
“Dr. Zhong, I also enjoy discovering good food at various restaurants. Let’s exchange contact information; we can share recommendations in the future.”
Zhong Lu quickly fished out his phone and opened his own QR code while shaking his hand, “Don’t call me Dr. Zhong; I’m not a doctor. I just graduated from my master’s program this year. I’m only a few years older than you. Just call me Zhong Lu.”
“Our center has enough PhDs that you could throw a brick and hit three of them. Did you feel like PhDs are as common as cabbages when you overheard their conversation?” Zhong Lu was currently working as an assistant to a foreign researcher in the group and was at the bottom of the group in terms of academic qualifications.
Yan Yan: “In that case, you, as a carrot that can thrive in the cabbage patch, means you’re pretty impressive and definitely better than other carrots.”
“Hahaha, that makes sense.” Zhong Lu laughed happily. “I’ll consider applying for a doctorate when my mentor says my skills aren’t enough. For now, I’m learning a lot more in Group Six than at school.”
Zhong Lu’s proud expression remained, he was proud of his work and had a clear grasp of his future. Yan Yan suddenly felt a bit lost. The confusion and uncertainty that he usually ignored came to the forefront.
“So, that’s how it is…”
“Yes, the cabbages are formidable, especially the one from your family.”
“You’re still teasing me.”
“Of course, we’re used to Team Leader Zhuang’s strict leadership in the team. There’s no chance to show his human side. But finally, an opportunity rose. Look over there, they must be talking about you two.”
Yan Yan lowered his gaze and smoothly inquired, “So, do you all never dare to crack jokes around him?”
“We usually don’t dare, but after a meal and a few drinks, Dr. Luan is the only one who dares to crack dry jokes in front of him.”
“Dry jokes?”
“Things like—A hunter shot a fox, then the hunter died. The fox laughed heartily and said, ‘I’m the reflex fox.’”
Yan Yan: “…”
He visualized Luan Qing telling this joke with a stern face, and nobody laughed afterwards. The scene seemed quite amusing.
“Don’t look at me like that, I didn’t come up with it. I would never tell such dry jokes.”
“Oh… Would gege smile after hearing that?”
“He won’t. But he won’t mind. Dr. Luan usually only says such things when he’s nervous or tired. The team leader just lets him talk, and he listens.”
Yan Yan withdrew his earlier remark about Zhuang Yiyun’s colleagues– “cute” my foot! Zhong Lu’s description made him imagine indulgence and fondness. Zhuang Yiyun was capable, indeed. He had a team member who told him jokes at work and someone to care of him at home. Bah, why did it sound like he was a servant or a little pageboy?
Thinking of Zhuang Yiyun, Yan Yan’s gaze subconsciously searched for him, but he wasn’t around.
Like an animal’s instinct towards danger, Yan Yan’s smile froze on his lips. He quickly scanned the room, but Ke Mingcheng was nowhere to be seen.
…’It’s over!’ He was careless, he’d been too focused on inquiring about Luan Qing. Ke Mingcheng was the real threat. He should have stayed with Zhuang Yiyun; where was he going to find him now?
“I need to use the restroom.” Hastily bidding farewell to Zhong Lu, he turned and headed towards the main hall exit. The terrace, garden, lounge, or at the very least, the restroom – those were the options. Don’t panic, there’s always a way to deal with threats. He needed to assess the situation first.
Inside the lounge, Ke Mingcheng held a slender lady’s cigarette between his fingertips, exhaling smoke leisurely. Sitting across from him, Zhuang Yiyun accepted the offered cigarette box, lit one, and smoked. His smoking posture was practiced, and with his face shrouded in smoke, he appeared completely different from the Dr. Zhuang in the hall.
“Why the change in preference?” Zhuang Yiyun glanced at the lady’s cigarette between Ke Mingcheng’s fingers and asked.
“Just felt like having something milder lately,” Ke Mingcheng lightly chuckled. “As for you, you seem to be eating some very spicy food.”
Zhuang Yiyun was puzzled, but he wasn’t the type to inquire about every little thing. Ke Mingcheng was often inscrutable; he didn’t feel like asking.
The two smoked in silence for a half-cigarette’s length before Ke Mingcheng spoke again, “What’s going on with you? You got married and didn’t tell your brother.”
“There’s nothing much to say.”
Behind the curtains, Luan Qing’s heart tightened. Outside the door, Yan Yan heard the faint conversation from the lounge and came to a halt.
