Mistaken Canary Chapter 8 (Part 1)
Chapter 8.1
When Ying Tongchen emerged from the fitting room in the clothes he had chosen, Zhuo Shu instantly knew why he wasn’t famous. ‘No sense of style at all,’ he thought. With that kind of wardrobe, attracting attention in the entertainment industry—where stylish men and glamorous women are a dime a dozen—would be a miracle.
The dress shirt, though it suited his temperament well, was far too plain.
Zhuo Shu felt a pang of paternal concern, fretting over his child’s future. "This won’t do. Try something else."
Ying Tongchen, buttoning his cufflinks, looked up. "What’s wrong with it?"
"It’s too simple," Zhuo Shu said, already moving towards a nearby display. He scanned the racks of men’s clothing, quickly selecting a stylish yet understated outfit. "Try this one."
As Ying Tongchen disappeared into the fitting room, the salesgirl approached Zhuo Shu, beaming as she said, "Sir, your taste is impeccable. This piece is a limited edition for this season."
Zhuo Shu nodded. While he wasn’t particularly fond of shopping himself, his job required him to be well-versed in the advantages and popular products of various stores.
"Business is pretty good today," he commented casually. "The mall’s busy, huh?"
"Yeah, they’ve been running promotions lately. I heard they’re even bringing Mei Xingming in for a National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival promotion," the salesgirl replied, a hint of excitement in her voice. Although barely known in the industry, Mei Xingming was still a notable figure to the general public—someone worth mentioning in WeChat Moments.
Zhuo Shu nodded thoughtfully and strolled through the store. Just then, the fitting room door opened behind him.
He turned, and stopped short.
Ying Tongchen was undeniably a clothes rack*. Even a loose, split long-sleeve shirt looked like it had been tailored specifically for him, emphasizing his tall frame, long legs, and fair skin.
(TLN: a ‘clothes rack’ (衣服架子) is usually used as a compliment, someone who looks good in anything because they have a good figure.)
Zhuo Shu watched as Ying Tongchen gave a quick spin in front of the mirror, seemingly indifferent, before disappearing back into the changing room.
When Ying Tongchen reappeared, Zhuo Shu, having already paid, handed him the bag. The unfamiliar weight of it struck Ying Tongchen. He held it for a moment, quiet and thoughtful.
It wasn’t until they walked out of the store that Zhuo Shu casually asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"My old man at home."
"Why him all of a sudden?"
Ying Tongchen tugged at the corner of his mouth, a glimmer of something in his eyes. "It just hit me... it's been years since someone bought clothes for me."
Zhuo Shu gave him a brief, assessing look but didn't pry. Instead, he playfully flicked Ying Tongchen’s forehead and grinned."If you need anything, just call me ‘daddy,’ and it’s yours."
Ying Tongchen rubbed his forehead, chuckling. "Alright, alright. Now, let's get those glasses sorted."
Without his glasses, Ying Tongchen’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of confusion clouding his normally sharp and luminous gaze. This change was captivating. Zhuo Shu found it fascinating and couldn’t help but steal a few more glances.
Ying Tongchen, sensing his gaze, asked without turning his head, "Do I look good?"
"Not bad."
"Tsk."
The mall’s third floor shimmered eyewear boutiques, and Ying Tongchen was a regular at one of them. He led Zhuo Shu straight into the store.
The shop attendant greeted him with a wide smile. "Back already? What brings you here this time?"
"This time, it’s not me," Ying Tongchen replied, pointing to Zhuo Shu behind him. "It’s his fault."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the attendant led him to the optical examination area. "How about the frame? Would you like to try a different style?"
Ying Tongchen had little preference when it came to eyewear, generally trusting the staff's expertise. Just as he was about to say "anything's fine," he noticed Zhuo Shu casually perusing the frames. "Zhuo Shu," he called out, "help me choose a frame."
Zhuo Shu raised an eyebrow. "Issuing instructions, are we?"
""I'm simply acknowledging your discerning eye," Ying Tongchen replied smoothly.
Zhuo Shu didn’t respond. His foot tapped aggressively against the floor, and he muttered curses under his breath as he stalked over to the display.
The attendant giggled, testing his vision while casting a playful glance at Ying Tongchen. "Who’s that outside? He looks quite handsome. Is he taken?"
Ying Tongchen paused, then casually glanced outside. He saw Zhuo Shu, head slightly lowered, his neatly styled hair catching the light, tapped his fingers rhythmically on the counter as he inquired about the materials. His gestures, though simple, carried an air of elegance and refinement that set him apart, exuding an almost noble composure.
He was the type that many would fancy.
"A man with those looks must have women lining up," the attendant murmured, half to herself. "I suppose there's no need to even ask…"
Ying Tongchen withdrew his gaze, a faint smile on his lips. "He's my daddy."
The attendant’s hand jerked, nearly sending the lenses tumbling.
…
On the way back, Ying Tongchen drove his own car.
After selecting the glasses, they went their separate ways. A quick glance in the rearview mirror confirmed the new frames were perched perfectly on his nose.
The frame Zhuo Shu had chosen was still the gold-rimmed style, but the quality was a bit better than the previous ones, with a matching chain added for good measure.
‘This casual fling isn't half bad,’ he mused.
As he passed a building, Ying Tongchen turned into its parking lot. He saw a familiar black Mercedes-Benz parked ahead.
At Yale Lexis Translation Studio, a different kind of energy filled the air. Preparations for the quarterly all-hands meeting were underway, and Mandy and Halen, the two newest additions to the team, were especially excited, chattering and glancing expectantly toward the door.
By 3:00 PM, everyone had entered the meeting room.
Lu Zongcai made a quick phone call, hanging up a minute later.
All eyes turned to her.
"Director Ying and Director Gao will be here shortly," she announced.
As if on cue, the door swung open. Gao Da appeared at the doorway, waving cheerfully. "Looks like you were all waiting for me."
The others muttered, "Tch."
There’s already enough married men to look at, okay?!
At this moment, Gao Da walked in, with another man’s silhouette appearing behind him.
The man was tall, with delicate features and eyes that hinted at hidden depths
A wave of attention from the female colleagues immediately focused on him.
"Director Ying! It’s been so long since you’ve graced us with your presence!"
"Exactly! With you, our mascot, not around, we’ve had a noticeable drop in clients."
"I did a divination with my fingers, Director Ying, you’re my destined one!"
"I’ve already prepared my dowry, Director Ying, why don’t you hurry up and propose?"
"You all have a way with words; no wonder you're all top talent in our company," Ying Tongchen chuckled as he sat next to Lu Zongcai and handed over the documents. "Here are the translations."
Lu Zongcai: "Reliable as always."
At the far corner, Mandy, pen clamped between her teeth, was clearly daydreaming. "Did you see that? That’s my senior, my life’s idol!"
"I saw." Halen nodded, a tear of envy slipping from her lips. "Director Ying is truly our role model!"
The meeting mainly focused on reviewing the past quarter's performance and outlining strategies for future growth. The company was flourishing and looking to tap into the potential of niche language markets.
Gao Da would remain in charge of market expansion, but the translation workload would gradually shift to other team members.
The first batch of senior employees he had trained were now fully capable of handling projects on their own, while the newcomers still required mentorship.
"One month from now, K.W Mall will hold a National Day event, inviting several foreign brand retailers, and they need translators, so they’ve reached out to our studio," Lu Zongcai said. "Tongchen, you’ll be in charge of this project. Amy has worked with you the longest, so bring her along to help, and have Mandy assist as well to familiarize her with the business."
Ying Tongchen: "No problem."
Amy and Mandy exchanged excited glances.
Lu Zongcai handed him a business card. "This is the contact information for the K.W. chairman's secretary. She'll be in touch soon."
"Mi Shu?" Ying Tongchen read from the card. "Got it."
Halfway through the meeting, Ying Tongchen's eyelids began to feel heavy—he'd been up late the night before.
As Gao Da clicked through slides, presenting the expansion strategy, he called out, "Student Ying, please remain seated."
"I’ll stand in the back," Ying Tongchen said calmly as he picked up the manuscript and walked toward the rear. "Just keeping an eye on the newcomers."
Gao Da: I suspect you’re just bored!
Ying Tongchen positioned himself right between the two newcomers, leaning against the wall, and listened attentively. When he glanced down, he saw them staring at him like idiots. He tapped each of them lightly with his pen and whispered, "Focus."
Mandy: "!" Mom, I think I’m in love!
Halen: "!" Mom, I think I just saw the disciplinary teacher!