Mistaken Canary Chapter 25
Chapter 25
"Da..." Liu Li'ang nearly choked on the name, unable to pronounce it, so he wisely chose to drop it. "I must not have met you before; otherwise, with such a memorable name, how could I possibly forget?"
That name would undoubtedly be etched deep within him, a source for endless mockery.
A staff member came in to inform Liu Li'ang that it was time to prepare for his stage appearance. Liu Li'ang nodded, then turned to them. "Would you like to watch?"
Ying Tongchen replied, "No need, I’m going—"
Zhuo Shu decisively cut him off. "We’re going. We’re all going."
After all, Liu Li'ang's stage performance is the perfect opportunity to inject some much-needed motivation into a certain salted fish.
"Alright, I’ll go prepare then," Liu Li'ang said, returning to his room.
Outside, Ying Tongchen sighed, feeling utterly defeated. "I really just want to go home."
Zhuo Shu: "I'll give you a bonus."
Ying Tongchen perked up. "How much?"
"Double the original rate."
"Chairman Zhuo, right this way." Ying Tongchen gestured respectfully, with a slight sweep of his hand.
The two slowly made their way to the mall's first-floor atrium. The stage had already been set up, with LED screens and lighting in place, and cameras positioned at the front.
Mi Shu was overseeing the various departments. Upon spotting them, she secured two guest seats.
The two hundred seats facing the stage were mostly occupied by store owners and VIP clients. Liu Li'ang was the spokesperson for a brand, and this event was a joint venture.
Ying Tongchen observed the scene, a diverse crowd of dedicated fans and casual observers, all holding banners. Security ensured a smooth flow, and the event appeared to be proceeding seamlessly.
"The fans are quite passionate," he remarked as he observed the enthusiastic girls around them.
Zhuo Shu glanced at him, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "You could be just as popular."
"I can't," Ying Tongchen replied, turning his head.
"Why not?"
"Because..." Ying Tongchen leaned in, cupping his hand near Zhuo Shu's ear, and whispered a fact, "I like men."
The surroundings continued to erupt in commotion, but Zhuo Shu found himself oddly quiet, his heart skipping a beat for a moment. The momentary panic in his expression quickly subsided, and he regained his composure. "That’s irrelevant. Can a fans' affection truly be compared to that of a lover?"
"How is it irrelevant?" Ying Tongchen asked. "Aren't both about wanting to possess him?"
Zhuo Shu: "..." He was momentarily lost for words.
"Well, perhaps some people are simply…selflessly devoted, you know? Not desiring his body, just his well-being," Zhuo Shu offered, forcing an explanation.
Just then, the host's voice boomed, introducing the guest about to take the stage.
Stepping onto the stage, Liu Li'ang, clad in a stylish high-fashion ensemble, his face meticulously made up and his hair professionally styled, waved to the crowd, who responded with a wave of enthusiastic cheers.
"Ahhh, Luo Li'ang, I want to marry you!"
"Li'ang Li'ang, the world’s toughest man!"
"Luo Li'ang, start coming directly at me!"
Hearing these shouts, Ying Tongchen gave Zhuo Shu a pointed look.
Zhuo Shu: "..." Fine then.
As Luo Li'ang interacted with the host, Ying Tongchen remained engrossed in his phone, updating the work group with the day's details and praising Mandy and Amy.
Luo Li'ang answered the host's questions while engaging with the audience. When his gaze swept across the seating area, he unexpectedly locked eyes with Zhuo Shu.
Chairman Zhuo, with his arms crossed, commanded attention even while seated. Yet, instead of acknowledging his little lover beside him, his focus was entirely on him (LL)!
What could this mean?
It means love— a victorious trumpet sounded in his direction.
The Luo Li'ang on stage was no longer the struggling aspirant seeking a wealthy patron, but a man confident enough to choose from the elite.
Zhuo Shu was undeniably the prime choice—more handsome than any less wealthy suitor, and wealthier than any less attractive one. Marrying him meant instant VIP status with every major brand, with endless discounts!
The entire K.W. Shopping Kingdom would be within his grasp!
With this vision in mind, Luo Li'ang delivered an even more impassioned performance.
He hit high notes with such force that his voice nearly cracked, and when executing a split during his dance, he almost pulled his balls—but thankfully, everything went off without a hitch, and the fans were ecstatic.
Luo Li'ang cast another suggestive glance at Zhuo Shu, who held his gaze, confirming his suspicions—this was going to happen!
“What are you staring at so intently?” Ying Tongchen's neck started to ache from constantly looking down at his phone. Looking up, he found Zhuo Shu’s gaze fixed on the stage.
“Watching the performance.” Zhuo Shu didn’t retract his gaze, though he was keenly aware of the surrounding chorus of “Ahh!” “So handsome!” “Marry me!”
Zhuo Shu couldn’t help but imagine—when Ying Tongchen became famous, would he be overwhelmed with similar marriage proposals? Or would it be like his younger sister, whose room was plastered with posters, indulging in daydreams and fantasies?
With such widespread adoration, would Yin Tongchen still be content to be his canary?
Wait! This line of thinking is wrong!
Why does the thought of their relationship ending fill him with such irritation?
“Was the performance good?” A faint but unmistakable cold light flashed in Yin Tongchen's eyes.
Zhuo Shu honestly replied, “I don’t know, I wasn't paying much attention.”
Yin Tongchen’s brows twitched slightly. He dropped his accusatory tone and feigned a smile, “Very good.”
The meet-and-greet with Luo Li'ang lasted an hour. After the event, there were special giveaways. Customers who had made purchases at K.W. during the National Day period could claim exclusive Liu Li'ang-themed souvenirs by presenting their receipts.
Though many of K.W's stores were pricey, the lower levels, from floors B1 to B3, still had plenty of more affordable brands, along with an imported goods supermarket. Today, their overall sales had skyrocketed.
“The influence of celebrities are truly remarkable—even a small piece of merchandise can drive so many people wild,” Yin Tongchen commented, then handed his receipt for the tie and necklace he had bought earlier to the staff at the counter.
The staff member glanced at their boss standing nearby, whose veins visibly bulging.
Zhuo Shu gritted his teeth and asked, “…You want his merchandise too?”
“Of course, since it’s free, why waste the opportunity?” Yin Tongchen replied matter-of-factly.
Zhuo Shu remembered, almost forgetting that this person was the type to never miss a freebie. The hairy crab incident was still fresh in his memory.
“Give it to him,” Zhuo Shu ordered.
“Tsk, I’m a consumer too. Why do I need your permission to get a freebie?”
Yin Tongchen grumbled a bit as he took the prize, opened it up, and found a postcard, a keychain, a poster, and a special chibi version doll of Liu Li'ang.
He thought the postcard and the other smaller items could be given to his students, as quite a few of them seem to be fans of Liu Li'ang.
“Hm? The keychain’s pretty good quality.” Yin Tongchen examined the material; it was noticeably different from ordinary keychains, “Not bad. I can use this.”
Zhuo Shu’s eyelid twitched, and he widened his eyes slightly, “You’re going to use his keychain?”
“Yeah, I happen to need a new one,” Yin Tongchen casually pocketed the keychain. He picked up the chibi doll, intending to toss it into his bag and give it to the students. Just as he was about to, the staff member spoke up, “That doll’s really fun.”
Yin Tongchen raised an eyebrow, “Fun? How do you play with it?”
The staff member picked up a doll and demonstrated, “See at how long its arms are? You can twist them together, and it turns into a fierce-looking toy. Plus, little Li'ang's got pockets, so you can stick your hands in there and warm up when it's cold. And the Li'ang figurine has Bluetooth headphones. Press here, and it’ll play music. Once you connect it to Bluetooth, it becomes a mini speaker.”
Zhuo Shu: “Hmph, childish.”
Yin Tongchen: “Wow, I’m loving this little Li'ang.”
Zhuo Shu: “???” Audacious! You’ve crossed a line!
Yin Tongchen, thoroughly pleased, hugged the doll, ready to head home. But as soon as he turned he was pulled back.
Zhuo Shu, staring at the doll in his arms, asked, “What are you planning to do with that fluffy thing? You’re not going to sleep hugging it, are you?”
“Of course not. I’m an adult, I don’t need things like this.”
Upon hearing this, Zhuo Shu relaxed his brow, but just as he did, Yin Tongchen added, “I’m taking it back for my old man. He’s all alone at home and bored out of his mind. This is perfect for him, plus, it’ll warm his hands.”
Zhuo Shu gasped. “You’re taking it to meet your parents?!”
“Mhm?” Yin Tongchen was momentarily stunned, a cloud of question marks forming above his head.
“You can’t take that with you.” Zhuo Shu firmly commanded.
Yin Tongchen’s expression darkened. “Starting again, huh? Got addicted to playing the tyrant?”
“I don’t care, you can’t take it.” Zhuo Shu pulled him into a corner and threatened, “Otherwise, you can forget about getting anything from me in the future.”
That wouldn’t do. Yin Tongchen couldn’t afford to lose a potential long-term client. However, he couldn’t just discard, so he stated, “Then give me a reason.”
Zhuo Shu pondered, snatching the doll from his hand. “I have something even more fun. I’ll give it to you in a few days.”
“Really?”
“If I’m lying, I’m bald.”
“Deal.”
Yin Tongchen didn’t insist on keeping the doll. Though he suspected Zhuo Shu had taken fancy on it, he remained silent.
He grabbed the bag filled with merchandise, waved goodbye to the fool, and drove off in the borrowed Bentley.
Zhuo Shu turned to head back to his office. While waiting for the elevator, he ran into Liu Li'ang, who was on his way back to his lounge.
“Chairman Zhuo, when do you finish work? Would you be interested in having dinner with me?” Liu Li'ang flashed what he believed was an irresistibly charming smile upon noticing Zhuo Shu alone.
Zhuo Shu, without shifting his gaze, replied, “No need.”
“Are there any future opportunities for cooperation?” Liu Li'ang persisted.
“Depends on the situation.”
“Then there is a chance. This collaboration with K.W was very enjoyable,” Liu Li'ang said, smiling as he looked at Zhuo Shu's profile. His gaze dropped and he inadvertently noticed the doll in his hand.
Liu Li'ang: “!”
So he secretly grabbed my doll, all while pretending not to like me. Chairman Zhuo must be trying to catch my attention!
Why wait any longer? Just confess!
Liu Li'ang decided to offer him an opportunity. “Chairman Zhuo, that doll in your hand is my exclusive merchandise.”
“Mhm.”
“Why are you holding it?”
At the mention of it, Zhuo Shu felt a surge of irritation, shooting Liu Li'ang a venomous glance. “Heh.”
Liu Li'ang: Man, your attempts to cover up only serve to attract me further. I’ve seen right through it all.
(TLN: Parody of a domineering CEO’s typical phrase— ‘Woman, you’ve blah blah’)
“Did Chairman Zhuo only take the doll?” Liu Li'ang looked around, “The keychain is also a fine item. You could carry it with you, always have a piece of me by your side. Whenever you want to see me, it’s right there.”
Zhuo Shu narrowed his eyes, his gaze icy, “Heh heh.”
“Or does Chairman Zhuo really like this doll?” Liu Li'ang continued, “I think it’s especially cute, you know. You could even hug it to sleep at night.”
“Shut up.” Zhuo Shu couldn’t hold back any longer. Just then, the elevator doors opened, and the two of them entered, the space now solely theirs.
After pressing the close button, Liu Li'ang glanced at the mirror, catching Zhuo Shu as he seemed to shift, as if about to speak, but for some reason, he hesitated and pulled back.
He smiled knowingly and took the initiative to ask, “Chairman Zhuo, is there something you’d like to ask?”
“The manufacturer of this doll, do you have their contact details?”
“My agent does.”
“Then add me on WeChat, and send me the manufacturer’s contact info.”
“?” Liu Li'ang froze for a moment, then quickly displayed his QR code. After confirming the friend request, it dawned on him—after all the odd explanations, it was simply a roundabout way of asking for his WeChat?
Everything is proceeding as planned!
The next two days of meetings went smoothly, and the rapport between Ying Tongchen and Zhuo Shu continued to improve. Even though Zhuo Shu wasn’t an English major, simple conversations posed no problem, with Ying Tongchen primarily handling the communication of meeting details.
At the same time, Zhuo Shu’s admiration for Ying Tongchen’s skills grew. Beyond the industry jargon, he was impressed that Ying Tongchen could even transform occasional slang phrases into something resembling ancient poetry.
Once all the work was completed, Zhuo Shu had Mi Shu treat the entire staff, including the accompanying translators, to a meal.
Ying Tongchen had a few drinks during the meal, and after sending two employees off in a car, he raised his hand to hail another one. At that moment, a hand appeared behind him, gently pushing his hand back down.
Without even needing to turn around, he knew exactly who it was. He smiled and asked, “Need anything else, Chairman Zhuo?”
Zhuo Shu observed his pale neck and the slight flush of his ears from the alcohol. He leaned in close and whispered, “You know where you should be, don’t you?”
...
Ying Tongchen was drenched in sweat, feeling a lingering fullness before collapsing onto the bed, too weak to move. The person on top of him got up, taking the initiative to carry him to the shower.
Ying Tongchen curled weakly in his embrace, his eyes half-lidded and heavy with sleep. Rubbing his eyes, a faint redness began to spread. He raised his hands, his voice hoarse, and asked, “Aren’t you going to untie this first?”
Zhuo Shu placed him gently into the bathtub, leisurely loosening the tie around his wrists, his lips curling into a satisfied smile.
“I gave this to you, but didn’t expect you’d use it like this,” Ying Tongchen shot him a glare.
“Make the most of what you’ve got. You taught me that,” Zhuo Shu said, his eyebrows raised in smug pride.
After the bath, as they lay back on the bed, Ying Tongchen was on the verge of passing out from exhaustion. But just as he was about to drift off, someone nudged him awake.
Zhuo Shu, with a mischievous grin, said, “Wake up, don’t sleep just yet. I’ve got something good for you.”
“What is it?” Ying Tongchen groaned, rolling over. He immediately saw Zhuo Shu’s sly smile as he pulled out a doll from who-knows-where.
“Here, take it. Not only does it have hand-warming, Bluetooth capabilities, but it also records sound. Isn’t that impressive?”
“...”
“Now, take a look at its design. Isn’t it super adorable?” Zhuo Shu brought the stuffed doll closer to his face.
The design was essentially a cartoon version of Zhuo Shu himself. WTF (an acronym)
Ying Tongchen: "......" Dumbsf*ck.
(TLN: 无f*ck说 was used in the raws, which for natives, reads similar to 无话可说, which means ‘no words left to say’ or ‘I’m speechless’. I tried my best to translate this :’), dumbstruck->dumbsf-ck, get it?)
“Are you cold?” Zhuo Shu asked with a concerned tone.
“I’m fine.” Ying Tongchen figured Zhuo Shu was going to pull him into another cuddle, but honestly, at that moment, he just wanted to sleep. If he wanted to cuddle, let him.
“If you’re cold, then sleep with this,” Zhuo Shu said, almost presenting the toy as if it were a treasure, shoving it into Ying Tongchen’s arms. “Isn’t it comfortable and warm?”
“...”
Ying Tongchen kicked it away. F*ck off.
.
.
.
Author's note:
Zhuo Mollycolly: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?