Orange 3
That afternoon, they didn’t go to Cheng Cheng’s home. At that point, going would seemed a bit embarrassing. Qi Rong took Cheng Cheng to a tea house owned by a friend and booked a private room for their discussion. Both understood without words, and neither brought up the topic of going home to cook.
Qi Rong was a regular customer at the tea house, and could navigate it with closed eyes. It was Cheng Cheng’s first time at a tea house, and seemed a bit curious about everything.
Noticing Cheng Cheng’s expression, Qi Rong realized that as a 22-year-old esports star, their lifestyles might be somewhat different. He probably usually drank coffee or milk tea. When ordering, he first asked Cheng Cheng what tea he wanted, which was a basic courtesy.
“I don’t know about tea. Lawyer Qi, you order.”
Qi Rong chuckled. He found Cheng Cheng’s straightforwardness cute. Young people cared about face, generally, they wouldn’t admit to not knowing and would pretend to understand. Cheng Cheng was different; he was straightforward.
“Bring a pot of Xinhui Xiaoqing,” Qi Rong said. Then, turning to Cheng Cheng, he added, “This tea is mellow with a hint of fresh fruity fragrance. You should like it.”
“Really? I’ll try it later.”
Once the tea was served, the waiter left. Qi Rong personally poured the tea. Although he couldn’t claim to be an expert in tea ceremony, he had been immersed in it since childhood so his tea-pouring movements were more elegant than others. Cheng Cheng was watching attentively, only realizing he might have been rude when Qi Rong’s voice brought him back.
They discussed work, going through the claused one by one, something Cheng Cheng usually found tedious. However, with a pot of tea, a small plate of snacks, a plate of fruit, and most importantly, a calm and warm voice in his ears, Cheng Cheng’s heart settled.
After more than two hours, Qi Rong organized a pile of NTC’s breach of contract behaviors. Then, he detailed the required evidence and materials, and asked Cheng Cheng if he had them. At 3:30 in the afternoon, Cheng Cheng was hungry and his stomach was growling.
“Let’s stop here for today. I know the situation, and I’ll contact you for further assistance.”
“Is that all?” Cheng Cheng asked, puzzled.
“The rest is mainly my job. You focus on training and competitions.”
“Lawyer Qi, if I terminate the contract early, I’ve breached it, so I’ll still have to pay the penalty, right? I don’t mind losing money, I just don’t want to pay too much.”
He was about to outline his bottom line for the compensation when Qi Rong cut in.
“Cheng Cheng, you aren’t thinking of telling me your breach of contract penalty, are you?”
“Well, shouldn’t I tell you this?”
“What if I know and then secretly leak it to NTC, cooperating with them to scheme against you, taking money from both ends?”
“Huh?” Cheng Cheng was stunned on the spot. “Can it be done like that? But aren’t you a lawyer? Aren’t lawyers supposed to follow the law?”
Qi Rong was about to burst into laughter. This naïve child.
“Not all lawyers strictly follow the law.”
“So, you don’t? You are Brother Yan’s senior…”
Qi Rong wanted to say a few more words to him, but as soon as his hurt expression came out, he swallowed everything he wanted to say.
“I am, I am just reminding you to always be cautious against people.”
“You’re Brother Yan’s senior, so you’re not a stranger.”
“…” Qi Rong was speechless. Should he be thankful for Cheng Cheng’s somewhat blind trust?
Feeling like his meddling tendency wasn’t ideal, Qi Rong quickly concluded, “In any case, always keep a guard up with unfamiliar people. Also, if, after all this talk this afternoon, you’re still required to pay, why invite me? Just focus on your own matters. Leave the rest to me. Before the transfer period this year, I’ll ensure a smooth termination with NTC for you. And anything they owe you, I’ll help you retrieve.”
Cheng Cheng looked at him for a while and said, “Lawyer Qi, why are you so good?”
His tone was gentle, perhaps unintentionally, but to Qi Rong’s ears, it sounded coquettish.
“I’ll take a commission from your compensation. According to the contract, besides regular attorney fees, I get a cut of whatever compensation you receive. Is that okay with you?”
“Oh, that’s right. But I still think you’re very kind.”
After Cheng Cheng finished, he smiled sweetly. Qi Rong was captivated by his smile and his gaze fell on his soft strands of hair. Cheng Cheng’s hair was fine and soft, accentuating his overall gentleness. Qi Rong couldn’t help but think, if you feed this soft-haired puppy, would he follow you?
“Let’s add each other on WeChat.” He took out his phone and scanned a code for Cheng Cheng. Of his two WeChat accounts, he scanned the personal one for Cheng Cheng, making him the only client on that account.
After adding WeChat, they exchanged phone numbers. As Cheng Cheng was about to leave, Qi Rong asked, “Do you like tea?”
Cheng Cheng nodded in confusion.
Qi Rong said to the waiter who came in to give the bill, “Add a box of tea to my tab and also bring an elegant cup.”
When the items arrived, Qi Rong handed the bag to Cheng Cheng. “This tea is good for digestion. Drink a bit after meals, but not too much. Pu’er tea contains tannins, and excessive consumption isn’t good for the stomach.”
“I can’t take this. You didn’t let me pay for lunch, and now I’m taking your tea. This isn’t right.”
“As you mentioned, I’m Yan Yan’s senior, not a stranger.”
“That’s not what I meant. You shouldn’t look at it that way.”
Qi Rong smiled. “If it’s a gift from your senior, just take it. The tea here is of good quality. If you don’t take it, I’ll have to go home and fetch some for you.”
After hearing this, Cheng Cheng shook his head repeatedly and had no choice but to take the tea. He planned to go back and ask Yan Yan which gift he could give Lawyer Qi as a token of gratitude.
He was already feeling hungry, and naturally, Qi Rong wouldn’t let him go back on an empty stomach. They had dinner together before parting ways.
“How are you getting back?” Qi Rong asked.
“I’ll take a taxi.”
“You don’t drive?”
“I don’t have a driver’s license, and I don’t have time to learn.”
After today’s exchange in the afternoon, Qi Rong fully understood Cheng Cheng’s deep passion for esports. Hearing his response wasn’t surprising. A professional player fully dedicated to training wouldn’t have time to learn to drive.
He said, “I’ll give you a ride.”
Cheng Cheng felt he should refuse. He had already troubled Lawyer Qi with lunch and received gifts. He felt like he had found a big brother rather than a legal representative. But…he didn’t really want to refuse.
Lawyer Qi was really nice. Being with him felt comfortable. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, Qi Rong gave off a welcoming vibe, he respected his profession without flaunting knowledge or looking down on him.
“Thank you, Lawyer Qi.”
“You’re going back to the base, right? Where is it located?”
“Binhai No. 1.”
Qi Rong looked at him, not saying anything for several seconds.
“What’s wrong?” Cheng Cheng asked.
“I live there too.”
“What a coincidence.”
“Let’s go, neighbor.”
Cheng Cheng followed him into the car. Qi Rong’s car wasn’t flashy. The Audi A6 reflected his personality—precise, mature, and steady. But residing in Binhai No. 1, a renowned villa area in Xing City where the residents are either rich or famous, hinted at Qi Rong’s affluent status. Before signing with NTC, the fact that the team base was in Binhai No. 1 was even used as a boastful perk by the team manager. If Qi Rong wasn’t renting, it indicated he was wealthy.
What Cheng Cheng didn’t know was that Qi Rong hadn’t lived in Binhai No. 1 for almost two years. As pressure from his parents to get married intensified, he moved out from his family home and lived independently. However, now… he was contemplating returning more often.
Once inside the car, Qi Rong said, “You can call me Qi Rong.”
“But that’s too disrespectful.”
“Why should you show respect to me?” Qi Rong asked, catching Cheng Cheng off guard.
After some thought, Cheng Cheng replied, “Because you’re older than me?”
“In that case, call me Brother Qi.”
“Brother Qi?”
“Mmm.”
With this change in address, both fell silent in the car. There was a subtle atmosphere quietly flowing. Just a while ago, they had a client-attorney relationship, but now, it seemed different.
Cheng Cheng couldn’t pinpoint exactly how it changed. He just felt the car interior became so quiet that he could hear the sound of Qi Rong’s hand brushing against the steering wheel. The masculine scent in the confined space became more pronounced, or maybe it was just his heightened senses. Anyway, the fragrance seemed to waft directly into his nose, making his face a bit red.
At a red light, Qi Rong turned on the radio, and music played. The singer sang, “Stay single, I can’t help but fall…”
Cheng Cheng suddenly asked, “Brother Qi, do you have a girlfriend?”
Qi Rong turned to look at him, the outside lights casting a halo around him.
“No, I’m like men, and I don’t have a boyfriend either.”
Cheng Cheng almost choked on his own saliva.
“Oh.”
“What’s wrong? Are you scared by my sexual orientation?”
Cheng Cheng’s face turned completely red. It was as if Qi Rong emphasizing it again had turned the serious term “sexual orientation” into a teasing drink, carrying a semi-concealed sexual tension.
Cheng Cheng felt he was surely overthinking. Perhaps being tortured by his teammates had left him wanting something out of the ordinary. Otherwise, why would he start having inappropriate thoughts about the serious and earnest Lawyer Qi?
“No, I’m not scared.” He shook his head, lowering it to conceal his flushing cheeks from Qi Rong. “Me too…”
But Qi Rong had seen the blush already—the reddened tips of his ears and cheeks looked even softer in the night.
The traffic light turned green and Qi Rong shifted gears. He had to place both hands on the steering wheel, otherwise, his right hand might reach over and pat the soft-haired puppy sitting in the passenger seat.
“Mm,” Qi Rong responded, not continuing this topic.
After dropping Cheng Cheng off at the entrance of the base, he waved goodbye. Cheng Cheng waited until Qi Rong’s car turned a corner and vanished before entering the base.
As soon as he entered, the manager intercepted him in the living room, questioning, “CORA, where did you go?”
“Manager, there is no need to report rest day plans to the team.”
Seeing that intimidation didn’t work, the manager changed his tone, saying, “I care about you. Have you forgotten about the incident with fans chasing your car last time? I’m worried about you spending the whole day outside alone, facing potential danger. Who was the person who just brought you back?”
Cheng Cheng couldn’t reveal that it was his hired lawyer. Qi Rong had instructed him not to leak information prematurely within the team. He just had to pretend there was no intention to terminate the contract.
“My cousin. He came back from a business trip today and asked me out. Is that not allowed?”
“Why haven’t I heard about your cousin being in Xing City before?”
Cheng Cheng refrained from making a sarcastic remark, even though he wanted to. Suppressing it, he said calmly, “He just transferred to Xing City this year. Should I report such matters to the team?”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I’m going upstairs. I’m tired.”
Cheng Cheng ran off after saying this, letting out a relieved breath after returning to his room. He couldn’t help but burst into laughter. He had been contemplating terminating the contract for a while, but he had never had he felt as confident and secure as today. It felt like finding… backing.
He placed the tea Qi Rong gave him on the table and then sprawled on the bed, taking out his phone to message Yan Yan.
Orange: [Brother Yan, Lawyer Qi is really nice.]
Yan Yan: [?]
He sensed the scent of gossip. Just Orange’s tone made him feel that something was off.
Orange: [How old is he?]
Yan Yan: [What’s the matter? Do you need to check a lawyer’s age? Are you worried that he’s too young and lacks experience?]
Yan Yan teased.
Orange: [Of course not. He’s very professional and impressive. Why would I doubt him?]
Orange: [Also, you introduced him to me.]
Orange: [I’m just curious.]
Yan Yan: [Oh, what kind of curiosity? Curious about the lawyer? Or curious about the man?]
Orange: […]
He turned over, covering his face and placing the phone face down on the bed.
Yan Yan: [Okay , I won’t tease you anymore. He’s thirty years old—the age when a man matures.]
Yan Yan: [He comes from a good family, is upright, and has a handsome appearance. He’s well-versed and knowledgeable, the most marketable among the single young men in our law firm.]
Orange: [!!!]
Yan Yan didn’t say more. He couldn’t tease too much. After waiting for a while, Orange sent another WeChat message.
Orange: [Brother Yan, tell me what you think, would Lawyer Qi be interested in someone like me?]
Yan Yan: [Should I find out for you?]
Orange was a bit shy, but his eyes sparkled. He really thought Lawyer Qi was great and didn’t want to miss this opportunity.
Orange: [Okay but don’t ask today, it’s too obvious.]
Yan Yan: [Okay, leave it to me. I’ll give you news you in a few days.]
He locked the screen with glee, and suddenly collided with Zhuang Yiyun’s scrutinizing gaze.
Zhuang Yiyun: “Looks like you had such a cheerful chat, who was it with?”
Yan Yan’s heart sank. It’s over. If he said he was chatting with Orange on WeChat, this reincarnated vinegar spirit would seize the opportunity… His waist was still sore.
