Mistaken Canary Chapter 23 (Part 3)
Chapter 23.3
Today's client was particularly important—the head of the Asia-Pacific region for a high-end luxury brand. The brand had launched a new sub-line, and their company placed a high value on the Chinese market. They were preparing to enter the domestic market and needed to select the first batch of stores.
After some pleasantries, Mi Shu led the client for a brief tour of the central mall area. She then activated the nearby mall guide system screen and provided a comprehensive explanation of the current store layout.
Ying Tongchen and Amy handled the translation work from the side.
Meanwhile, Mandy hurriedly took notes, occasionally offering silent praise for their performance.
She took a step back, accidentally bumping into someone. Turning around, she was startled to find herself face-to-face with the infamous and seemingly unapproachable Chairman Zhuo. Her face turned pale, and she quickly mumbled an apology.
However, to her surprise, he completely ignored her—not even sparing a glance. His gaze was fixed intently on a particular individual.
Following his line of sight, she realized it was directed at her senior!
Ah, her senior’s voice was so pleasant, his translation speed was remarkably fast, and his accuracy was spot on. His composed and unhurried demeanor was simply captivating, and his focused look radiated a kind of brilliance!
Mandy was momentarily lost in admiration, then turned to glance back at Chairman Zhuo, wondering when the two had become acquainted. Their relationship seemed unusually close, based on their interaction.
She didn’t detect the usual icy aura from Chairman Zhuo; instead, he seemed to radiate a soft, warm feeling.
A moment later, she noticed Zhuo Shu’s eyes flicker slightly, and he turned his head, feigning interest in the scenery.
Instinctively, she glanced at her senior, only to find him looking back at her with a subtle smile tugging at the corner of his lips—clearly, it was her senior who had just smiled at Chairman Zhuo!
They lingered in the mall for about half an hour before heading back to the office building. During that time, Mi Shu diligently continued to introduce the company’s basic information, which, as expected, was already familiar to Ying Tongchen, resulting in a smooth and effortless translation.
The conference room had already been set up, with everything neatly arranged on the table.
Ying Tongchen handed the receiver earpiece to Zhuo Shu. “Put this on.”
Zhuo Shu looked at him and fumbled, dropping the earpiece onto the floor.
Ying Tongchen picked it up, bent down slightly, and personally placed it on Zhuo Shu’s ear, advising, “Don’t let it fall off later. I’ll check the equipment again once we start.”
Afterward, he walked to a small room beside them, leaving the door ajar. He put on his transmitter earpiece and tested, “Check, check, can you hear me?”
Zhuo Shu nodded.
“Volume okay?”
“Quite nice.”
“OK, do you have any other questions?”
“You have a nice voice,” Zhuo Shu said, tapping his foot lightly, before pulling out his phone and gesturing to the WeChat interface, signaling for him to take a look.
Ying Tongchen opened it and saw the message.
[Zhuo Shu]: Can we wear these earpieces next time in bed?
Ying Tongchen: “...”
[Ying]: No.
[Zhuo Shu]: Why not?
[Ying]: Do you know how much I make per hour when I wear this earpiece?
[Zhuo Shu] transferred 88,888 yuan via WeChat.
[Zhuo Shu]: Is that enough for one time? Though, considering my stamina, it might not be?
Ying Tongchen: “...”
The client had also brought a female translator, so Amy stayed with Yin Tongchen to handle the simultaneous translation for Zhuo Shu. After verifying that the equipment on both sides was functioning correctly, the meeting officially commenced.
Zhuo Shu immediately cited a similar successful case to illustrate how he managed to open up new markets and increase domestic brand awareness, using it as a starting point for his discussion.
Ying Tongchen listened intently, focusing quietly on the sound of his voice.
Though Zhuo Shu had remarked that his voice sounded even better through the earpiece, Ying Tongchen had to admit the same was true in reverse.
Sitting in the small, quiet cubicle with the door slightly ajar, Ying Tongchen could glance up and catch a glimpse of Zhuo Shu's profile.
He simultaneously took notes on the key points on his computer while listening intently to the conversation. In that moment, it felt as though Zhuo Shu was speaking directly to him, whispering in his ear, slowly and methodically.
In that moment, Yin Tongchen could truly appreciate that Zhuo Shu was a chairman with impressive strategies and remarkable capabilities.
At other times, however, he was like an untamed husky, completely out of control.
Once Zhuo Shu finished speaking, he calmly turned his attention back to the client.
Moments later, the voice of Ying Tongchen came through the earpiece, clear and steady like a babbling brook, seamlessly translating everything the client had said into Chinese, interspersed with industry-specific terms that clearly indicated his thorough preparation.
Zhuo Shu couldn't help but glance subtly at the people in the room, catching sight of Ying Tongchen's focused expression. A flicker of admiration sparked in his eyes.
The meeting continued until around 12:30 pm, with both sides reaching a preliminary agreement. The specific details would need to be discussed further in the afternoon.
As the client stood up to head to the restroom, Zhuo Shu remained seated in the office, fiddling with his earpiece. "Hello? Mr. Ying, can you hear me?"
"I hear you." Ying Tongchen had already turned off the equipment, speechlessly staring at Zhuo Shu, who was about ten meters away. "Chairman Zhuo, have you gotten addicted to this?"
"It's rather interesting," Zhuo Shu chuckled softly. "I'm very satisfied with your performance."
"So?"
"How about joining me for lunch, Mr. Ying?"
"No problem."
Meanwhile, Mandy, who had been helping to tidy up, had overheard the entire conversation. For some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that their exchange sounded a bit... like something more suggestive?
Mandy was certain it must be the influence of her fujoshi friends who had corrupted her mind, seeing ships where there were none.
She quickly rushed over to Amy and whispered, "Chairman Zhuo invited Senior to lunch! Do you think they have some kind of inexplicable relationship?!"
Amy, completely unfazed, replied, "It’s not just inexplicable. I’d say it’s more like a three, or foursome."
Mandy: "Holy f*ck! What do you mean by that?"
Amy, with a mysteriously unreadable expression, responded, "Because Chairman Zhuo invited the client as well. Mr. Ying and their translator will also be joining. In other words, it's a story about one woman and three men."
Mandy: "…Amy jie, you're wasted as a translator."
Zhuo Shu had invited the client to a high-end restaurant on the top floor of the mall. While he continued his casual conversation with the client at the table, Ying Tongchen and the client’s translator barely had time to eat.
Halfway through the meal, the client took a phone call.
Taking advantage of this break, Ying Tongchen and the other translator quickly took a few bites of their food. Suddenly, a hand reached over from the side, placing a small plate in front of Ying, with a perfectly untouched foie gras on it.
He looked up at the owner of the hand—Zhuo Shu, who wore a disdainful expression. "The chef's cooking is off today. Finish this for me."
Yin Tongchen briefly flicked at the utensils in front of Zhuo Shu, knowing full well that he had just been stuffing his teeth with foie gras.
"Thanks," Yin Tongchen accepted his kindness without hesitation, savoring the perfectly cooked foie gras with great pleasure.
Zhuo Shu, keeping his gaze discreet, observed Ying Tongchen’s expression from the corner of his eye. Seeing him with his head down, focused on his meal, he couldn't help but watch a little longer before finally shifting his gaze, satisfied.
After finishing the foie gras, Ying Tongchen returned the favor by pouring him another drink, serving both him and the client.
Zhuo Shu lifted the wine glass briefly before taking a long sip: gulp gulp gulp!
When Ying Tongchen noticed his glass was empty, he poured a little more.
Zhuo Shu swirled the glass for a moment before once again taking a long sip: gulp gulp gulp gulp gulp!
Ying Tongchen: "..." Is it really that intense?
Not daring to pour any more wine, Ying asked the waiter for a glass of milk and placed it in front of Zhuo Shu.
Zhuo Shu swirled the glass for a moment, then once again took a long sip: gulp gulp gulp gulp gulp gulp gulp!
Ying Tongchen: “?”
Unconvinced, Ying Tongchen ordered another carton of milk.
Zhuo Shu gracefully inserted the straw and started again: gulp gulp gulp gulp gulp gulp burp!
"Are you a water buffalo?" Ying couldn't resist poking his belly. "Don't you feel full?"
Zhuo Shu froze, milk spilling from the corner of his mouth.
Zhuo Shu: "..."
Ying Tongchen: "..."
"Pfft." The female translator across from them suddenly laughed. She was a foreigner with classic Western features and a striking figure, but her Chinese was very fluent. "Mr. Ying, don't pour any more wine for Chairman Zhuo; I’m pretty sure it’s his own feelings that are intoxicating him, not the alcohol."
Ying Tongchen was momentarily stunned and then turned a curious gaze toward Zhuo Shu.
Zhuo Shu shot him a look. "You believe that? Do you think you're that charming?"
Ying Tongchen replied honestly, "Yes, I think I do."
"Shameless." Zhuo Shu gave him a dismissive glance.
The client's phone call ended, and the meal continued.
A short while later, Zhuo Shu personally escorted them to their hotel to rest.
They both entered the private elevator. As the doors closed, a murmured exchange in their native tongue preceded a sudden, intimate kiss between the client and translator, completely disregarding their audience.
Zhuo Shu stood there in a daze, staring at the mirror, not daring to move. Seeing that the two seemed to have more in mind, he quickly nudged Ying Tongchen.
Ying Tongchen turned his head, and Zhuo Shu subtly puckered his lips.
Ying Tongchen: "..."
Ying Tongchen pushed away the face that was almost touching his own.
After sending the client and translator to the hotel, the translator affectionately linked hands with the client, chatting and laughing as they walked in, occasionally exchanging kisses.
Ying Tongchen turned and got into the car, rolling down the window. He looked at the statue-like figure outside and said, "Get in the car. Are we going back or not?"
Zhuo Shu turned his body slowly, his eyes now filled with annoyance. "What’s your deal?"
Ying Tongchen, clearly puzzled, asked, "Hmm?"
"Look at their translator—talk about thorough service!" Zhuo Shu muttered, clearly displeased.
Ying Tongchen pressed the horn. "If you want to go back, get in the car quickly and stop whining."
"No wonder you're doing so poorly." Zhuo Shu grumbled as he stormed to the other side of the vehicle, still full of complaints.
As a canary—he didn’t even know how to act cute and playful like the others. As a translator, he wasn’t even as 'considerate' as the others. Why did I end up with such window dressing?"
Zhuo Shu settled into the passenger seat, fastening his seatbelt, but suddenly paused. Turning to Ying Tongchen, he asked, "We’re already downstairs. What’s the point of not going in?"
"Bro, don’t you have another meeting this afternoon?" Ying Tongchen was confused.
Zhuo Shu: "But his translator..."
"They’re in a romantic relationship."
"Hmm? How do you know that?"
"I had a casual chat with the translator earlier." Ying Tongchen started the car, then shot him a meaningful glance. "So, still want to go up or...are you asking to be my boyfriend?"
Zhuo Shu was momentarily lost in thought, facing the biggest dilemma of his life.
Ying Tongchen's tempting body = relationship.
No, no, he wasn't ready for marriage and children yet—a romantic relationship was absolutely out of the question.
"Heh, give it up. I won’t be marrying or having children with you. A little thing like you, don’t even think you can have my beauty, my figure, and my vast fortune," Zhuo Shu said arrogantly, lifting his chin as if bestowing a royal sneer upon Ying Tongchen.
The car suddenly accelerated, and Zhuo Shu shrieked, "AHHH! Are you trying to murder your hubby?!"
The car screeched to a halt.
Ying Tongchen turned to look at him. "What did you say?"
"..." Zhuo Shu raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "What did I say? I didn't say anything."
"You said 'murder your—'"
"Daddy!" Zhuo Shu quickly interjected. "Isn’t this more like ‘murder your daddy’? Have you forgotten, I’m still your bankroller daddy?"
What could Ying Tongchen do? After all, Zhuo Shu was indeed his client now. :)
Ying Tongchen accelerated once more, and Zhuo Shu grabbed the seatbelt tightly. "Why are you driving so fast?!"
Ying Tongchen: "To send you on your way to the afterlife. On your journey to the underworld, you better watch your step."
Car’s sped to eight hundred, next life, you’ll call me ‘Dad’ without dread.
.
.
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Author's note:
Zhuo Shu: You little thing, don’t think just because you’ve shed your disguise, I won’t recognize you.
Ying Tongchen: Apologies, but I'm wearing a layered disguise—can't take them all off in one go(.)