Mistaken Canary Chapter 56
Chapter 56
The penthouse level office floor was deserted save for the chairman's office, still lit like daylight.
Zhuo Shu sat at the desk handling business affairs, occasionally glancing at the person sitting beside him.
Ying Tongchen was sitting upright, with a sharp jawline and long eyelashes slightly lowered, deeply focused on the large red apple in his hand.
What a warm and beautiful scene...
Then, he saw him skillfully twirl his knife, the blade reflecting light from the lamps, and then one slash after another landed on the apple skin...
Zhuo Shu: "...."
At this rate, not only would the apple peel be gone, but the whole apple might vanish.
Zhuo Shu quickly shifted his gaze back to his work.
Not long after, the denuded apple appeared before him, reduced to the core and token flesh.
"Eat," Ying Tongchen said.
"Mm." Zhuo Shu nodded and took the apple and finished it in two bites, tossing the core into the trash can with a quick motion.
Turning his head, he noticed Ying Tongchen staring at the trash can in a daze.
He hurriedly said, "I finished it... so I threw it away… I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
"Mm." Ying Tongchen paused for a moment, then took out his phone and placed a delivery order for several more pounds of apples.
Before long, both dinner and the apples arrived one after the other.
After working all day, the two finally took the time to have dinner.
Zhuo Shu hurriedly finished in a few bites and returned to his work.
Ying Tongchen glanced at him and asked, "That busy?"
"Mm, I want to finish quickly so I drive you back," Zhuo Shu said, without lifting his gaze from the paper.
"No worries, you go ahead with your work. I've also found something to busy myself with." Ying Tongchen leisurely finished his meal and sat beside him, starting to peel another apple.
Zhuo Shu smiled lightly. "Trying to force that skill out now?"
"Mhm." A fleeting thought seemed to have crossed Ying Tongchen’s mind as he quietly smiled. "What if one day, when you're old and lying in a hospital bed, I can't even peel an apple properly—"
Before he finished his sentence, Ying Tongchen fell silent, his gaze fixed on the apple in his hands, avoiding looking at Zhuo Shu’s reaction.
After a moment, a hand gently ruffled his hair.
Zhuo Shu laughed. "We're the same age, so we'll grow old together. We can stay in the same hospital room, and I’m fine eating unpeeled apples."
Ying Tongchen responded, "Are we really the same age?"
"We're exactly the same age! Two days doesn't count!" Zhuo Shu retorted.
"Get back to work. Don't disturb me while I peel." Ying Tongchen pushed his hand away, not wanting to lose focus.
The two of them returned to their tasks, occasionally exchanging a few words. The atmosphere was quiet, but not lonely.
…
When Zhuo Shu finally finished all his work and checked the time—it was already past midnight.
He turned to look at Ying Tongchen, only to realize that he had fallen asleep at some point. Ying Tongchen was lying with his head on the desk, only his profile visible, and his glasses still on.
Zhuo Shu carefully took the glasses off and leaned in a little closer, gazing at Ying Tongchen's peaceful and gentle sleeping face. A smile slowly crept on his face.
If only he were this gentle when awake, too... QAQ
Zhuo Shu bent down and picked him up. Ying Tongchen sleepily opened his eyes. "Finished?"
"Mhm."
"Then let's go home."
"It's too late. Let's just make do here for the night. I'll drive you to school tomorrow morning." Zhuo Shu gently opened the door to his private lounge, placed him on the soft bed, and took off his shoes.
Ying Tongchen was simply too tired. In this cold weather, having to head back home would have been a real struggle, so he turned over and fell asleep contentedly.
After Zhuo Shu lay down on the bed, he gently touched Ying Tongchen's cool hand, holding it in his palm. Then, he boldly pulled him into his embrace. There was no need to worry about him suddenly noticing or fearing being kicked off the bed. It felt so nice.
The next morning, before dawn broke, the alarm went off.
Zhuo Shu opened his eyes and said, "Time to get up."
"Mmm..." Ying Tongchen replied sleepily, with a bit of a nasal tone, snuggling deeper into the blankets.
Zhuo Shu found this scene a novelty. He remembered that in the past, whenever they shared a room, Ying Tongchen would already be up and prepared for work, never lingering in bed like this.
"If you like this bed so much," Zhuo Shu said, "I can have someone replace your bed at your place with one like this." Feeling like the picture of a thoughtful boyfriend, Zhuo Shu leaned in flatteringly. "What do you think?"
"......" Ying Tongchen sat up from the bed, flipped over, and got dressed. "Nothing to think about," he muttered in response.
The two quickly finished getting ready and went downstairs. The wind outside was quite strong, and Ying Tongchen hurried into his car. "You can go back now, no need to send me."
"Cut the nonsense," Zhuo Shu said, then realized his tone had been a bit harsh. He cleared his throat and, seeing that Ying Tongchen was about to speak, immediately corrected himself, "Say no more, just kiss me."
Ying Tongchen: "..."
Zhuo Shu waited for a while but didn’t get the kiss, so he decided to take matters into his own hands. He leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of Ying Tongchen's mouth, then sat back with a satisfied expression.
As the car engine started, Ying Tongchen rested his elbow on the window, his fist under his chin, silently staring out the window. His eyes flickered, and a faint curve appeared at the corner of his lips.
There were few vehicles and pedestrians on the road, and it wasn’t long before they reached the school. The sky was just beginning to show a hint of light.
…
"Wait," Zhuo Shu called out to Ying Tongchen, taking a spare scarf from the car and walked over to tie it around his neck. "Don't catch a cold."
"I know. You should go back now," Ying Tongchen said.
"Let's go on a date tonight," Zhuo Shu suggested. "I finished all my work."
"…Sure." Ying Tongchen glanced at the time, then quickly walked toward the teaching building. Before he entered, he turned back and saw Zhuo Shu still standing there. He waved his hand, and only then did Zhuo Shu return to the car and drive away from the school.
…
"Mr. Ying! You're here so early today!" Zhuo Zi stepped into the classroom, gave a quick greeting, and just as she sat down, her eyes landed on his scarf. "Huh, Mr. Ying, you like this brand of scarf too? My ge always buys this style."
Ying Tongchen nodded nonchalantly. "Yes, the quality of this brand is pretty good."
Zhuo Zi tilted her head and sniffed the air. "My ge uses this exact cologne too!"
Ying Tongchen's expression froze slightly. "This cologne is quite popular, so it's no surprise many people use it."
She looked at him in shock, eyes wide and dazed.
Tru–Truthfully, Mr. Ying didn’t smell of cologne! She had just been teasing him!
In a daze, Zhuo Zi felt like she might have uncovered something incredibly significant.
If she found the right opportunity to peek in, could she catch her brother and his brother-in-law in the act of their forbidden relationship?
That’s right, her brother’s boyfriend lived abroad and could only come back occasionally. Long-distance relationships were always difficult to bear.
And while enduring the lonely nights, a perfect stand-in walks in—and it was a man with features so similar to his boyfriend! Honestly, who wouldn’t lose it?
Was this a distortion of human nature, or the collapse of morality?
Oh no, it’s over! Zhuo Zi, having uncovered this great secret, felt that her ge was about to get struck by lightning for his transgressions.
"Is everyone present? Take out your books, self-study starts now." Ying Tongchen noticed Zhuo Zi’s increasingly peculiar stare, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles. He quickly stood up and wandered around the classroom, intentionally avoiding her gaze.
…
After the afternoon classes ended, Ying Tongchen assigned the weekend homework before leaving the classroom.
Today was Friday, and coincidentally, it was also Christmas. A group of students had been eagerly waiting for the end of school so they could go meet their crushes. Before long, the campus quieted down.
Ying Tongchen packed his things, made a stop at his apartment before driving to K.W.
He parked the car and walked to the entrance, spotting a huge Christmas tree next to the mall's mascot.
Pedestrians were coming and going but he immediately spotted Zhuo Shu standing under the tree. Zhuo Shu seemed to sense his presence, turning his head to look in his direction, a smile forming at the corner of his lips.
Ying Tongchen walked over. "How long have you been waiting?"
"Not long," Zhuo Shu replied with a smile. "Let's go, I've already made the reservation."
There were a lot of people dining out today, and many restaurants had long lines outside.
Zhuo Shu led him to a western restaurant on the top floor, the same place where they had dined with the brand ambassador last time.
After finishing their meal, the two of them walked out of the building and strolled around the nearby area.
Sometime unnoticed, snow had begun to fall. Ying Tongchen lifted his face to the sky, held out his hand, and watched a snowflake dissolve in his palm.
He lowered his gaze, and just then, a hand reached out, intertwining with his fingers.
Zhuo Shu held his hand and placed it into his jacket pocket. "You really don’t fear the cold, do you."
Ying Tongchen chuckled before glancing around. Most people were walking in pairs, busy whispering to each other, completely unaware of their secret little moment.
They walked for a while and reached the pedestrian street.
The small vendors had set up their stalls, hoping to make a big profit in the next few days.
Zhuo Shu stopped at a stall and bought a pair of gloves. He slipped them onto Ying Tongchen’s hands, but a few dissatisfied moments later, he frowned and took them off again. Clasping Ying Tongchen’s hand tightly, Zhuo Shu remarked, “This is warmer.”
Ying Tongchen let out a helpless smile. As his gaze unintentionally drifted, his expression froze, and he quickly grabbed Zhuo Shu’s shoulder and spun him around to face away from a certain direction.
"What’s wrong?" Zhuo Shu asked in confusion.
Ying Tongchen lowered his voice. "Your sister is over there."
"Where?" Zhuo Shu surreptitiously turned his head to glance behind, and saw Zhuo Zi and Shi Tiwei standing not far away.
Shi Tiwei had his back to them, but the flowers he was holding behind his back were clearly visible.
"What does that brat think he’s doing?!" Zhuo Shu immediately got angry.
"That’s their business, don’t get involved," Ying Tongchen said softly. "You have to trust Zhuo Zi."
"She can’t be trusted at all," Zhuo Shu muttered. "When she was in elementary school, a little boy gave her a bouquet on Christmas, and she thought he liked her. She convinced herself they were in a relationship. The next day, she found out he gave gifts to the entire class, and she cried her heart out, saying she would never believe in love again."
"…Well, she’s quite the passionate girl," Ying Tongchen commented.
"Her emotional intelligence..." Zhuo Shu demonstrated by pointing at his head, "is negative."
Ying Tongchen raised an eyebrow. "You two really are family. "
"What do you mean by that?" Zhuo Shu put on a sour expression.
Ying Tongchen suddenly pulled his hand back and stuffed it into his pocket.
Zhuo Shu quickly reached into the pocket, grasping his hand, and tried to make up for it. "No no, listen! You’re absolutely right. My sister’s like me—cursed with flawless beauty. Maybe that’s why her emotional intelligence didn’t get quite enough love."
Ying Tongchen rolled his eyes.
Zhuo Shu glanced back again, and saw an additional figure besides his young sister. Ban Zhang, holding a basket of flowers, handed a bouquet to Zhuo Zi.
Zhuo Shu: "......" Audacious mUcH?!
What was going on here?
He whispered, "Is this the legendary 'love triangle'?"
Ying Tongchen sighed suddenly, “Youth really does come with a lot more options.”
"What options? I think neither of them are good enough for her." Zhuo Shu said as he watched the three of them turn and walk ahead. He quickly pulled Ying Tongchen along to follow them.
"What are you doing?" Ying Tongchen asked.
"I want to see who she chooses in the end!" Zhuo Shu snorted and casually bought two hats and two pairs of sunglasses from a nearby stall with a practiced air. "Put these on. Following people is my specialty."
"......"
Zhuo Zi, unaware of the danger approaching, turned to Ban Zhang and asked, "Did you come here to sell flowers right after school?"
"Yeah, didn't expect to run into you guys here," Ban Zhang smiled at Shi Tiwei, "Sorry, looks like I interrupted."
Shi Tiwei, annoyed, shoved the flowers into Zhuo Zi's arms, unable to retort.
Zhuo Zi pulled out her phone, scanned the (payment) QR code that Ban Zhang had attached to the basket, paid for the flowers, and then asked Shi Tiwei, "Where’s your QR code?"
"I don't need your money."
"Right, you're not selling flowers," Zhuo Zi understood, "Don't worry, I understand your intentions."
"Re–Really?" Shi Tiwei asked, surprised.
"Yeah, you just want to copy my homework, right? Permission granted," Zhuo Zi said generously.
"Pfft." Ban Zhang muffled his reaction.
"You’re not allowed to laugh!" Shi Tiwei yelled at Ban Zhang.
The two started playfully tussling, and Zhuo Zi turned back, amused. Her eyes casually glanced ahead, and she saw two men tightly embracing each other.
Their heads were buried in each other's necks, so their faces were hidden.
However, Zhuo Zi immediately recognized them.
The man wearing the scarf had been in her sight all day, and the other person's back—she’d recognize it even if it turned to ashes. :)
Great, she didn’t even need to dig around when the scene appeared right in front of her eyes.
Zhuo Zi quickly turned her head, looked up at the sky, and muttered, "Oh my heavens, please don’t let it thunder."
"Thunder? What thunder?" Shi Tiwei asked.
"Nothing," Zhuo Zi muttered, her emotions complex and mixed. She was excited to have stumbled upon such an unexpected ship, demo (でも) also uneasy about the illicit love affair between these two men.
Seeing Shi Tiwei and Ban Zhang turn around, she immediately grabbed their arms and hurried the other way. "Hurry, hurry, this place isn’t safe to linger!"
"They seem to have left," muttered Ying Tongchen, with one eye opened slightly.
Zhuo Shu sighed in relief, but when he turned to look back, he saw Zhuo Zi dragging each of the two boys by the arm, racing toward the glowing hotel sign at the end of the street.
"!" Zhuo Shu was shocked, his face contorting in disbelief. "She's gotten out of hand! We have to stop her!"
Without wasting a moment, he grabbed Ying Tongchen's hand and took off after her.
…
Zhuo Zi had run for a while but was too out of breath to continue, stopping to catch her breath with her hands on her knees. As she bent over, she looked back and saw Zhuo Shu brazenly holding Ying Tongchen's hand. Are they trying to make it any less obvious?!
Might as well walk herself straight into the lion’s den!
Zhuo Zi walked to a secluded area and dialed Zhuo Shu’s number.
Zhuo Shu glanced at the caller ID, then tugged Ying Tongchen aside, intending to take the call. However, Ying Tongchen pointed at a nearby stall, indicating he wanted to buy something.
Zhuo Shu nodded and walked to the side alone to answer the call, his voice cold. "Why aren’t you home after school?"
"You’re the one to talk! Why aren’t you home after work?" Zhuo Zi stomped her foot. "Hurry up and go home!"
"Don’t tell me what to do," Zhuo Shu replied impatiently. "Don’t think I don’t know where you are right now."
"You’re the one who’s not allowed to say anything!" Zhuo Zi retorted. Then, seeing Ban Zhang and Shi Tiwei glance over at her, she lowered her voice and quickly added, “If you go home now, I’ll go back too. We’ll meet each over there.”
"You go first. I’m busy." After hanging up, Zhuo Shu approached Ying Tongchen, looked down, and noticed a candy stand with overly ornate wrappers.
At that moment, Ying Tongchen offered a small box with some chocolates inside. “Care to try?”
Zhuo Shu peeled back the wrapper and saw the chocolate’s edges melting. After one bite, he frowned deeply. “This is terrible.”
"Really?" Ying Tongchen gazed at him seriously.
"Yeah, try it yourself," Zhuo Shu said, holding the chocolate near Ying Tongchen’s mouth. Ying Tongchen shook his head.
“It’s really disgusting, don’t bother buying.” Zhuo Shu glanced at the vendor with disdain and pulled him along. "These vendors are so shady, thinking they can cover up the terrible taste with fancy packaging. You sure you don’t want to try it? See how bad it really is?"
Ying Tongchen released his hand.
Zhuo Shu turned around. "What’s wrong?"
"It’s not bought," Ying Tongchen said with a faint smile. "I made it myself."
Zhuo Shu’s face froze, and the chocolate dropped from his hand with a soft thud onto the ground.
He instinctively touched his knee, then looked at the damp ground and the crowd around them. Trying to act calm, he pulled out his phone, putting it to his ear. "What did you say? You want me to come home? Alright, I’ll be right there!"
Zhuo Shu bowed slightly. "Sorry, my sister called. She said my dad's allergic rhinitis flared up again. I need to head home and check on him."