Mistaken Canary Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Zhuo Shu stood beside the window, deep in self-imposed solitude. It had been years since he’d stayed in a hotel like this, let alone owning a membership card for it
At the front desk earlier, he had just reached for his card when Ying Tongchen beat him to it, casually tossing down a membership card with a flair that rivaled a domineering CEO. Zhuo Shu was so stunned he nearly forgot to react—who exactly was keeping whom here?
Their room was on a lower floor, its frosted windows obscuring any view outside. Aside from the bed, there was only a bathroom.
The sound of water finally stopped. Ying Tongchen stepped out, head down as he dried his hair. "Hurry up and take a shower."
Zhuo Shu glanced at his slender waist and long legs, snapping out of his stupor. He maintained a composed expression, but his pace toward the bathroom quickened noticeably.
Sprawled across the bed, Ying Tongchen opened his phone and saw that the previously quiet work group chat on WeChat had come alive again.
The company had just hired two fresh graduates, both of whom were already starstruck by their yet-to-be-seen boss. Although Ying Tongchen rarely set foot in the office, his exceeding reputation in the group chat seems to constantly circulate.
[Mandy]: "So when is Boss Ying coming to the office? I only came for the interview because of Senior Ying! His fangirls are still posting about him on the school's confession wall*!"
(TLN: A "confession wall" is a platform where students can post anonymous confessions, typically related to romantic feelings, admiration, or personal experiences, without revealing their identities. It’s meant to allow students to express themselves without fear of rejection or exposure.)
[Halen]: "Wait—you're his junior, from the same university? That’s freaking amazing!"
[Mandy]: "Little dinosaur feeling shy.jpg. Nah, I’m just his junior from undergrad, just a regular university student. Back then, Senior Ying got a student exchange spot in his junior year, came back in his fourth year to take the graduate exams, and aced them, getting into one of the top three schools in the field. Then, he teamed up with these two bosses to start the studio!"
[Halen]: "So jelly. I also heard he’s really handsome?"
[Mandy]: "Absolutely! You know how few guys there were in our English department—just a handful. But Senior Ying’s looks still catapulted him into campus heartthrob territory! He was our department’s pride and joy! (Even though I missed out on those years, sobs.)"
The chat quickly turned into a praise-fest.
Ying Tongchen, who hadn’t realized he was so face-lifting*, felt embarrassed, so he quietly exited the group chat—only to see a new notification.
(TLN: Sorry I couldn’t find a better term, but just to clarify, we’re not talking about the procedure, but the Chinese use of ‘face’—used to describe one's reputation or dignity.)
His senior schoolmate had just tagged him.
[Halen]: "Now I really want to meet Boss Ying!"
[Lu Zongcai]: "He’s busy with his main hustle. We’re just passing faces in his life. @Ying don’t forget next week’s meeting! Or I’ll show up at your house and break down the door!"
Lu Zongcai, who was two years his senior, had attended college with her husband, Gao Da. Back then, the couple had heard about Ying Tongchen’s obsession with studying and making money. After some discussion, they decided to recruit him.
They had even prepared for negotiations and convincing tactics—only to have Ying Tongchen agree almost immediately.
Of course, Ying Tongchen wasn’t foolish. Lu Zongcai’s professional skills were among the best, and Gao Da, despite skipping graduate school, had already built experience, connections, and a network in the real world. With wealth and good character—evidenced by the way he treated his wife—he was a solid candidate for a business partner.
In the early days, the three of them endured plenty of hardships. They didn’t even have a proper office and had to hustle at trade shows, hoping to secure clients. Unfortunately, few were willing to take a chance on them, and their daily earnings barely covered gas money.
But after attending enough expos, they started to become familiar faces. Gradually, they started landing orders, and the positive feedback rolled in. Later, Ying Tongchen leveraged connections he’d made while studying abroad, pulling in even more resources and opportunities.
Now that the studio had stabilized, they had gradually expanded and hired more staff. Ying Tongchen only needed to attend meetings on schedule and could handle most of his work from home.
Two years ago, he suddenly announced he wanted to return to school as a teacher, leaving Lu Zongcai and Gao Da completely stunned.
In the group chat, Ying Tongchen replied with a simple "Got it" and then sent out several large red packets*. The newcomers cheered excitedly, begging him to stay and chat.
(TLN: Yes, you can send money in the form of red packets in WeChat, it’s just a nice treat for formal and informal occasions. It’s first come first serve and the amount is random, based on how much the sender set the limit to.)
At that moment, the mattress dipped slightly as someone lay down beside him.
Ying Tongchen hurriedly typed "gtg" before putting down his phone. Turning to look at Zhuo Shu, he noticed the other man didn’t seem too pleased. "What’s wrong?"
"The bathroom floor was slippery. I almost fell," Zhuo Shu complained, frowning. "The shower gel smelled awful, and the water was already turning cold by the end."
"Pfft." Ying Tongchen suddenly found his deadpan tone of complaint was rather adorable. He stretched out his leg and hooked it around Zhuo Shu’s. "Don’t be mad. I’ll warm you up."
"..." Zhuo Shu lifted his gaze, giving him a sidelong look. "Are you treating me like a kid?"
"How could I?" Ying Tongchen scooted closer, his hand sliding downward. "Could a kid be this big?"
Zhuo Shu's breath hitched as he flipped over, bracing both hands on either side of Ying Tongchen’s head, his gaze dark and intense.
Ying Tongchen smiled, taking off his glasses and placing them on the nightstand. Before he could react further, his arm was pulled back, and he was swept into a maelstrom...
This time wasn’t nearly as awkward as the first. Compared to before, both of them were more relaxed—at least Zhuo Shu thought Ying Tongchen’s soft murmurs sounded genuinely pleasing.
Of course, there was still a hint of performance involved. Ying Tongchen figured he might as well deserve an acting award at this rate, but since the experience was marginally better than last time, he didn’t mind indulging Zhuo Shu a little.
After all, encouraging students was one of his favorite methods.
"Unm... your bazooka is just so big. You’re amazing... omg."
Zhuo Shu: (*^▽^*)
Ying Tongchen kept his eyes closed and continued to flatter, "You’re the biggest and most impressive man I’ve ever seen!"
"......?" Zhuo Shu paused. "Wait, doesn't that sound off? You've seen other—"
"I haven't." Ying Tongchen hooked an arm behind his neck, pulling him in for a kiss. Lips tangled, breaths mingling, a faint trace of silver stringing between them as he murmured, "You’re so bad. Why'd you pause?"
Zhuo Shu: (*^▽^*)
…
The next morning, the alarm blared obnoxiously.
Ying Tongchen groped around the nightstand before glancing at the time—he had to head to school for a meeting.
The moment he shifted, he noticed their position—his chest pressed against Zhuo Shu’s back. Just as he lazily tried to wriggle free, a hand yanked him right back.
Zhuo Shu, eyes still shut, asked, "Where are you going?"
Ying Tongchen turned, pinched one side of Zhuo Shu’s face until it almost lost shape. "Work. Let me go."
They both let go at the same time. Zhuo Shu winced, rubbing his cheek while muttering, "(I'm) Docking your pay."
"They wouldn’t dock my pay, but we agreed on a time. Being late doesn’t reflect well," Ying Tongchen said as he flipped off the bed, put on his clothes, and glanced back. He noticed Zhuo Shu had also sat up, his jaw tight, looking like he was ready to unleash some serious morning grumpiness.
"If you're tired, go back to sleep for a bit," Ying Tongchen walked over and, without thinking, ruffled Zhuo Shu’s hair. Zhuo Shu usually had that sleek, side-parted, neat style, but at night, his hair was softer and messier, which made it irresistible for Ying Tongchen to touch.
Zhuo Shu cleared his throat. "Audacious."
Ying Tongchen: I’ll just keep ruffling!
Zhuo Shu silently made a note of it in his mind but closed his eyes, unknowingly relaxing into the sensation.
After enough ruffling, Ying Tongchen turned around to find his glasses. "Have you seen my glasses?"
"They’re here." Zhuo Shu lifted the blanket and got up, retrieving his glasses from the corner of the bed. Just as he was about to hand them to Ying Tongchen, Zhuo Shu saw him bent over, rummaging through the nightstand.
Slap—
Ying Tongchen jumped in surprise, then instinctively patted his backside. As soon as he saw Zhuo Shu's face, the curse he had been about to say got swallowed back down. For some reason, the suffix ‘mmm what a perky butt’ that Meng Gong had set up popped into his mind. Without thinking, he blurted out, "Is it perky?"
"..." Zhuo Shu didn’t respond, instead gently putting the glasses on Ying Tongchen himself. As their eyes met, Ying Tongchen suddenly realized how intimate his reaction had been—too natural, too ambiguous!
Ying Tongchen, feeling a bit awkward, pushed the glasses up. "Thanks."
"Get lost," Zhuo Shu said, his tone turning cold.
"? Alright then."
After Ying Tongchen actually closed the door and left, Zhuo Shu felt a bit guilty for what he had said earlier. He opened the door, looking at Ying Tongchen’s retreating figure, and opened his mouth, as if wanting to call him back.
Ying Tongchen seemed to sense it, glancing back and smiling at him with a composed, leisurely expression.
Zhuo Shu: "... The farther you go, the better."
Ying Tongchen: "............"
Ying Tongchen: "Oh right, I’ve given it some thought, and I’m fine with what you suggested last night."
"Okay."
"Then give me your phone number too. And for safety’s sake, while this relationship lasts, don’t go looking for anyone else."
Zhuo Shu certainly understood the importance of a 1V1 relationship. But as someone who had sold himself for fame, why was Ying Tongchen able to so boldly request such a thing?
…
After rushing back to school, Ying Tongchen found a leather sofa to sit on. He meticulously checked that the top button of his shirt was fastened, ensuring that his long sleeves covered his arms, leaving no trace exposed. Only then did he feel at ease.
Other teachers gradually arrived, and as soon as they sat down, a sharp-eyed language teacher asked, "Mr. Ying, weren’t you wearing the same shirt at yesterday's meeting?"
The smile on Ying Tongchen's face stiffened.
The language teacher teased, "You mentioned having dinner with a friend last night—are you seeing someone?"
"No," Ying Tongchen shook his head.
Zheng Zhinan*, sitting across from him, puzzled, said, "What's the big deal? Us grown men go two or three days before changing clothes, nothing special about that, right, Mr. Ying?"
(TLN: His name 郑植楠 (zhèng zhí nán) is a homophone to 真直男 (zhēn zhí nán), which means a ‘real straight male.’ And by straight, I mean those "straightforward thinkers". Basically a man who lacks sensitivity to subtle cues, is not skilled in flattery, or is indifferent to romantic nuances.)
Ying Tongchen gave an awkward smile. "Exactly."
Language teacher: Hmm, what an interesting meeting!
…
Meanwhile, Zhuo Shu had been busy at the company all day. His secretary reported, "There's a gathering at 'Opulen' tonight."
The moment Zhuo Shu heard this, he felt an incoming headache.
Opulen was an upscale nightclub club, catering exclusively to the rich and elite, where a single bottle of liquor could easily cost thousands. With an array of entertainment options, it primarily offered high-end services to wealthy clientele, often including some... special services.
Though he wasn’t fond of conducting business in such places, others were, especially the spoiled second-gens who had no better way to spend their time.
As soon as he stepped into the private room, he saw several men drinking, surrounded by a group of young and attractive men and women.
"Hey, long time no see, Young Master Zhuo~"
"Young Master Zhuo, alone again? Want me to call a few for you?"
"You really need to stop working so hard, Young Master Zhuo, you're always making money and still have no one to accompany you, hahaha!"
Zhuo Shu settled into a single sofa, and the rich young men quickly gathered around him. After a few drinks, the conversation shifted to potential business deals.
As they chatted, a pretty boy accidentally spilled his drink on Qian Duo's clothes. With teary eyes, he apologized profusely and began to wipe the stain off with his bare hands.
Qian Duo pulled the boy onto his lap, giving him an impish grin. "You stoked this flame, so you’ll have to put it out yourself."
The boy nodded shyly.
Soon, the two headed upstairs and booked a room.
Zhuo Shu: "......"
The rest of the people in the private room began to egg them on, with Sha Bi laughing loudly. "Qian Duo’s pretty good, just left his lover and now he’s onto a new one already."
Another person smirked. "You really think that boy spilled the drink by accident? These types love to play innocent, pretending to be pure, and always have a 'chance encounter' that seems too coincidental. They then act all high and mighty, playing hard to get, pulling your heartstrings, and then move in for the win. The best part is when they pull the Cinderella act—'I’m poor, but I don’t want your money, I just love you for who you are,' when in reality, they’ve already planned to use both you and your money."
Zhuo Shu paused for a moment, raising his glass. "Cinderella act?"
"Yeah, these little vixens are quite clever these days."
..
After the party ended, Zhuo Shu, reeking of alcohol, sat in the car, his mind swirling with thoughts of Ying Tongchen’s behavior and the comments from his superficial friends.
He grabbed his phone, pulled out a piece of paper, and dialed the number that Ying Tongchen had left for him earlier that morning.
The call was quickly connected, and Ying Tongchen’s lazy voice came through. "Hello, may I ask who’s calling?"
"It’s me."
"Pardon me, who is this?" Ying Tongchen could only hear this was a drunkard's voice.
"It’s me!"
"Oh, I remember now." Ying Tongchen stifled a smile at the edge of his lips. "It’s so late, is something the matter?"
"You tell me, what else could it be at this hour? Go to the hotel and wait for me."
"You’re drunk," Ying Tongchen replied, spinning his pen as he glanced down at his lesson plan. "I’ll have to pass, I have work."
"What work do you still have?" Zhuo Shu leaned back, head tilted against the seat. "Are you pretending to be busy to fool me?"
"Why would I lie to you?" Ying Tongchen chuckled. "You’re really drunk. Don’t believe me? Go sleep it off, and when you wake up, you’ll know if you were really drunk."
There was a pause on the other end, as if Zhuo Shu was considering this suggestion. Ying Tongchen laughed faintly.
Zhuo Shu, listening to the pleasant sound, instinctively said, "Laugh again."
"No," Ying Tongchen glanced at the time. "I’m going to sleep now. Goodbye."
"You’re not allowed to sleep, come to the hotel!"
"Sleepy sleepy."
"..."
Half a minute later, Zhuo Shu: "Good... night!"
Ying Tongchen hung up and continued preparing his lesson plans. After a long while, he stopped, twirled his pen, and laughed softly.