Chapter 19: Empty, Heart Itching
The late August weather was still over thirty degrees Celsius.
Chen Shuo sat in the car, enjoying the air conditioning. Turning his head, he saw Yuan Feng walking towards him with two cups of iced tea. Just as he was about to get out of the car, Yuan Feng started running.
“Here.” Yuan Feng handed the iced tea to Chen Shuo and invited him to stay for dinner at Jinxi Bay, watch two episodes of “Empresses in the Palace,” and then go back.
Yuan Feng was also hooked on palace dramas. Chen Shuo felt a sense of camaraderie with him and spoke more warmly, “I can’t watch it today, I have other things to do.”
“Ah, what is it?” Yuan Feng was curious.
The sponsor wanted to give his little lover a car. Chen Shuo’s job today was to be a driving instructor, teaching Yuan Feng, who had a driver’s license but no driving skills, how to drive.
He was quite pleased. This meant that Yuan Feng and He Yan were getting along well, and his work would be smooth for the time being. He was now happy to clean up Yuan Feng’s messes.
However, after driving to an empty asphalt road, Yuan Feng not only refused to practice but also felt embarrassed about accepting the car, finding the maintenance costs too high, saying that he preferred riding an electric scooter.
His simplicity reminded Chen Shuo of Chen Meifang.
In his childhood memories, the most profound image was his mother, slightly hunched, her feet pedaling hard, always riding a tricycle to deliver goods. Every time she arrived at the grocery store, she was already drenched in sweat, not letting him help unload the goods, rushing him back inside to do his homework.
Later, when their family’s financial situation improved, Chen Meifang generously bought a three-wheeled motorcycle, which could carry more goods, puttering back and forth in the wind and rain.
But in Chen Shuo’s eyes, that wasn’t generosity, it was the mindset of a poor person, a woman aged by time, gradually losing the strength to struggle for life, yet unwilling to treat herself better.
Guessing that Yuan Feng wouldn’t accept it, Chen Shuo still explained, “You don’t need to worry about the car maintenance costs.”
“I know,” Yuan Feng said, “But I can’t rely on CEO He forever. I’ll have my own life in the future, and I’ll consider learning to drive then. If I learn now, I’ll forget if I don’t drive for a few years.”
In this mutually beneficial cooperation, Yuan Feng had the right to enjoy everything He Yan provided, there was no need to feel burdened.
Chen Shuo tried to persuade him as a friend, but Yuan Feng was firm, so he had to give up, sending him back to Jinxi Bay and reporting the matter to his boss.
For the next two days, Yuan Feng was often absent-minded and much quieter, losing focus several times while practicing driving. Chen Shuo didn’t have the right to care and wasn’t curious. It was probably because He Yan forced him to learn to drive, and Yuan Feng felt burdened by his feelings.
He didn’t really understand why people suffered for love. It could clearly be avoided, yet they chose to experience it. Yuan Feng signed the “keeping” contract, and Yu Rui held onto fantasies about love. They were all asking for trouble.
Until the third evening, Chen Shuo unexpectedly learned that Yuan Feng was going back to his hometown and couldn’t help but ask, “Are you going back to your hometown?”
“Yeah, something came up at home.” Yuan Feng suddenly asked, “Chen Shuo, are you a local?”
Not understanding why Yuan Feng asked this, Chen Shuo replied, “No, I went to university here and stayed after graduation.”
Yuan Feng: “Oh, then it’s been many years, you must miss home a lot.”
There was no need to miss a home he couldn’t return to, it would only increase negative emotions. Chen Shuo denied, “It’s okay, I don’t miss it.”
“…” Yuan Feng was momentarily speechless.
No wonder Chen Shuo was a bit cold. Yuan Feng felt embarrassed to pry into Chen Shuo’s privacy and slowly said, “It’s been eleven years since I left home. I didn’t think much about my hometown in the first few years, but this time, after careful consideration, I decided to go back and have a look.”
Hearing Yuan Feng’s emotions and the meaning behind his words, Chen Shuo empathized at this moment and said, “If you want to go back, then go back. Following your heart won’t be wrong.”
“You’re right, I’ll go back and see first.” Yuan Feng leaned back and sighed, “In life, it’s best not to have regrets…”
Chen Shuo reminded himself not to get involved in such emotionally charged topics. He gave up comforting Yuan Feng as a friend and chose to perfunctory, “That’s true.”
Yuan Feng: “Am I being too talkative? You should drive.”
“You’re not talkative.” Chen Shuo said against his will.
“That’s good.” Yuan Feng was a bit relieved, “CEO He always finds me talkative, saying I talk too much.”
“I think it’s okay.” Chen Shuo continued to say against his will.
Early the next morning, Yuan Feng left in a hurry, and Chen Shuo was temporarily free, staying home and watching TV dramas for two days.
During this time, Yu Rui complained to him once, saying that Li Ge was like a walking fire-breathing dragon at the company, and an employee from the planning department couldn’t handle the pressure and resigned.
Chen Shuo admired Yu Rui’s resilience and simply replied with a few words, then put his phone on silent. Since Yuan Feng was only going back for two days, he wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet during his vacation.
The day Yuan Feng returned, Chen Shuo happened to have something to ask his boss. Timing it with He Yan’s meeting, he went to the company.
“Assistant Chen.” Shao Tong said with a smile, “What a coincidence, CEO He just finished his meeting.”
Shao Tong had short, neat hair, a quick mind, and decisive actions. She was a highly capable and outstanding woman. Chen Shuo didn’t mind socializing with her and always greeted her proactively whenever they met.
“Assistant Shao, good morning.”
“Good morning.” Shao Tong asked, “The usual?”
“Not today, thank you.” Chen Shuo took the tray from Shao Tong with both hands, “I’ll take the coffee in.”
“Thank you.” Shao Tong didn’t decline.
What Chen Shuo mainly wanted to ask about was the contract renewal. He Yan was extremely busy and sometimes even forgot about his little lover, likely losing interest after he was done with his work.
Over time, Chen Shuo would ask He Yan on the monthly payment day whether to continue the contract.
Seeing He Yan silent, seemingly deep in thought, he thought of the lovesick Yuan Feng and, after a moment of hesitation, couldn’t help but remind him, “CEO He, Mr. Yuan will be back tonight.”
Unexpectedly, his good intentions backfired, not only potentially harming Yuan Feng but also almost costing him his job.
When he called Yuan Feng as instructed, and a sleepy, slightly coquettish voice came from the other end, Chen Shuo panicked and quickly hinted to Yuan Feng, “Mr. Yuan, what time will you arrive approximately?”
“It’s Chen Shuo… I’m so sleepy…”
Sensing a stern gaze, Chen Shuo wanted to hang up the phone. He forced himself to say a few more words, and after hanging up, before He Yan could speak, he quickly explained, “CEO He, Mr. Yuan has mentioned several times that it’s more convenient to address each other by name.”
“Really?” He Yan put down his coffee, not asking further, “You have one week to teach him how to drive.”
Having been an assistant for so many years, Chen Shuo had made a rookie mistake with Yuan Feng, he shouldn’t have socialized with his boss’s lover. He retreated to his proper position. The next morning, he went to Jinxi Bay, and Yuan Feng apologized profusely.
“I’m so sorry, Chen Shuo, I was half asleep yesterday and thought I was dreaming. Did CEO He scold you? I’m really sorry, did he deduct your salary?”
“Mr. Yuan, there’s no need to apologize.” Chen Shuo didn’t want to lose his job, so he had to maintain a proper distance.
“…” The familiar sense of distance made Yuan Feng uncomfortable. What was it like to go back to square one?
The friend he had just made was gone just like that.
“Mr. Yuan, this is the 150,000 check, please keep it safe.” Chen Shuo took out the check from his bag and handed it to Yuan Feng, “There’s another 50,000, I’ll bring it over after you get off work.”
After returning from his hometown, Yuan Feng was desperately short of money, but he wasn’t happy about receiving the 50,000 bonus. He didn’t want to face a robot. Chen Shuo clearly knew how to smile and even explained the plot and character relationships to him when they watched “Empresses in the Palace” together.
The meat bun in his hand suddenly lost its appeal. He put down his breakfast, picked up his briefcase, “Let’s go.”
Chen Shuo felt apologetic for affecting Yuan Feng’s mood, wondering if Yuan Feng had suffered last night, and reflecting on whether he had been too cold, perhaps he should have explained properly.
He didn’t know that because of his hesitation, Yuan Feng lied and slipped away again, afraid of causing him trouble, going to buy an electric scooter and secretly riding it back to Jinxi Bay.
Inside Jinling Xuan.
The sumptuous Chinese meal reminded He Yan of his gluttonous little lover. He stood up and said, “I’m going to the restroom.”
Li Ge, seeing that he wasn’t going in the right direction, asked, “There’s a restroom in the private room, why are you going outside? Don’t tell me your wife is here?”
Qiao An didn’t believe it and asked, “Is it real or fake?”
He Yan told Qiao An, “Don’t invite this guy next time, he’s a mood killer.”
“This guy?” Li Ge raised his voice, “Are we still brothers?”
He Yan ignored his cousin and opened the wooden door, going outside.
“…” Li Ge stared at his cousin’s retreating figure and shook his head at Qiao An, “See? A cold-blooded animal. He even snatched my toys when we were kids and broke them. It’s been over twenty years, and he still hasn’t apologized.”
Qiao An was speechless, “You’re something else too.”
Li Ge had been feeling frustrated lately. The duck he had almost caught flew away, and he couldn’t find anyone to his liking. He had met his “girlfriend” through Qiao An’s introduction during the day, and he felt even more frustrated. Sometimes he hated being gay, why was he so obsessed with men’s butts?
No, there were also handsome faces.
Hearing that He Yan would be at the dinner tonight, Li Ge pestered Qiao An, eagerly coming along, hoping for a chance encounter, but the person who brought his cousin was a middle-aged driver, not the little assistant surnamed Chen.
“Sigh…”
“Sighing again, what’s bothering you?” Qiao An asked.
“I finally found someone I like, but I can only look and not touch, I’m so fucking frustrated.” Li Ge smoked irritably.
Qiao An: “I think your pants are frustrated, and ‘finally’? You find someone ‘finally’ every time.”
Li Ge: “You don’t understand, this time is different.”
Qiao An wanted to ask what was different, but seeing He Yan return, he greeted him and saw that he was about to leave again. He stopped He Yan and said, “Fei Fan will be here soon, wait for him.”
Taking advantage of their cousin relationship, Li Ge deliberately teased, “Is your wife rushing you home?”
He Yan: “I just went back home the day before yesterday. I heard you turned down the blind date arranged by your family?”
“…” Li Ge immediately became obedient, preparing to appease his cousin. Unfortunately, Fei Fan arrived with Dong Mo, and he was unjustly blamed, more wronged than Dou E.
Fei Fan: “Traffic was bad, I’m late! I’ll punish myself with three drinks later!”
Li Ge hooked his arm around Fei Fan’s neck, pulled him aside, and cursed in a low voice, “Who the fuck asked you to bring him here? Thirty drinks won’t be enough.”
Just as he finished speaking, he heard an extremely familiar voice from outside the door. A steady tone, mechanized syllables, every word precise and measured.
“Okay, CEO He.”
Li Ge released Fei Fan and immediately chased after the voice. Seeing the tall and straight figure of the little assistant, he felt an itch, especially the butt cheeks wrapped in trousers, making his hands itch as well.
“Assistant Chen,” he quickly walked to Chen Shuo’s side, “Where are you going?”
It wasn’t appropriate to avoid him in public, so Chen Shuo politely replied, “Hello, Mr. Li, I’m going to take care of something CEO He assigned me.”
Li Ge couldn’t help but tease, “I happen to need an obedient personal assistant, why don’t you come work for me part-time?”
Chen Shuo: “Sorry, Mr. Li.”
Li Ge: “How much does my cousin pay you per month?”
Chen Shuo: “Sorry, Mr. Li.”
“…” Li Ge was speechless, wanting to take him right there and then, but he couldn’t touch him, and money didn’t work either. He could only tease him a bit to satisfy his craving.
Out of sight, out of mind. He helplessly waved his hand, “Assistant Chen, go ahead with your work.”
“Thank you, Mr. Li.” Chen Shuo quickened his pace, avoiding Li Ge like the plague.
Unbelievable, a robot with a built-in repeater. Li Ge stared at the figure disappearing around the corner, his gaze undisguised. If he got him into bed, wouldn’t he keep repeating those words for him?
He returned to the private room, where only Qiao An and Fei Fan remained.
“Where are they?”
“They didn’t come in, they probably went outside to talk.” Qiao An guessed.
Fei Fan looked distressed, “I’ve been wronged! I thought Dong Mo was your high school classmate, and you two had a good relationship…”
What classmates, Li Ge’s mind was filled with the little assistant who needed to be trained. He said irritably, “Forget it, let’s drink together.”
Meanwhile, Chen Shuo finished his work, bid farewell to Yuan Feng in another private room, and went home after work.
On the way back, he rarely turned on the music. While waiting at a red light, his fingers tapped the steering wheel to the rhythm of the melodious music. The night lights shone through the windshield onto his face, and no one noticed the slight curve of his lips.
Although Yuan Feng had also tried to get close to him at first, flattering him to get information about his sponsor, he was indeed different. He wouldn’t be unreasonable, wouldn’t cause trouble, even considered his work, and even taught him how to ride an electric scooter.
Before taking Yuan Feng to Jinling Xuan, Chen Shuo learned how to ride an electric scooter at the entrance of Jinxi Bay. Feeling the cool early autumn breeze, he somewhat understood what Chen Meifang meant by being outgoing. Some things couldn’t be resolved just by controlling one’s emotions.
He thought about buying an electric scooter himself, which would be convenient for going to the gym or supermarket, without having to worry about traffic jams, saving time.
Another thing worth celebrating today was that the playboy Li Ge didn’t harass him.
Chen Shuo felt it was time to end his social interactions with Yu Rui, they weren’t on the same wavelength. Unexpectedly, after only half a month of peace, he was cornered by the playboy in an empty restroom.
