67: I’m saving you here. When you win Secretary Gao back, remember to thank me
He never wanted to see Gao Tu again.
Or so he said, but his thoughts wouldn’t listen. The more Shen Wenlang told himself not to think about Gao Tu, the more his mind betrayed him.
Like now — at a crowded banquet, he didn’t want to think about that unnecessary secretary, didn’t want to be this restless over him… but he just couldn’t stop.
Completely forgetting that infuriating Beta? Impossible.
Every time he thought about Gao Tu’s number turning into a dead line, about him hiding in some godforsaken corner of the world, Shen Wenlang’s heart became uneasy.
Gao Tu wasn’t the kind of person who’d just disappear without a word. He must’ve run into real trouble and had no way to ask for help — that was the only explanation for vanishing like that.
It had happened once before, many years ago.
Back then, Shen Wenlang had just gotten to know him.
For a long time, he’d been vaguely aware there was a little “snail girl” who’d leave him drinks and snacks. But unlike others who tried to please him, this “snail girl” worked in secret, quietly doing things no one noticed.
At first, Shen Wenlang had found it strange that his desk always “sprouted” snacks and drinks that perfectly suited his tastes.
Out of caution, he hadn’t planned to eat them.
But one day after exercise, he was starving.
Just as he hesitated about throwing them away again, a soft voice spoke behind him:
“Um… those are all fresh, sealed packages. It’s a waste to keep throwing them out like that.”
“You bought them? Why are you meddling?” he snapped reflexively.
When he turned, he saw a face flushed bright red.
Even now, Shen Wenlang still remembered that sight: a young Gao Tu, with the standard clean-cut schoolboy haircut, his blushing face nearly buried in his faded blue uniform collar.
What a clumsy idiot.
That was his first impression of Gao Tu.
The second was even more unforgettable: that summer, Gao Tu held four part-time jobs.
In one day, Shen ran into him at KFC, a fruit shop, a library, and a convenience store.
“Are you quadruplets?”
Gao Tu turned red again, lowering his head and mumbling:
“That’ll be 247 yuan 80.”
Shen took the bag, staring at his flushed neck and face.
“What are you doing this summer, field research on the service industry?”
“I…” Gao Tu ducked his head lower, his lips trembling with embarrassment.
“You what?” Shen pressed, amused.
“Is working all over town your hobby?”
“No.” Gao Tu’s voice was almost inaudible as he stared at a chipped spot on the counter, face burning like he’d been caught stealing instead of just working summer jobs.
Shen chuckled:
“School’s starting soon. Are your assignments done?”
“How much can you earn from this? You should focus on studying.”
The harsh fluorescent light in the convenience store bathed Gao Tu’s bowed head.
He clearly had so much he wanted to say, but couldn’t utter a word of it.
A few days later, when school started, Gao Tu got scolded and sent to stand in the hallway for not finishing his homework.
Much later, Shen learned the truth: Gao Tu hadn’t been lazy or curious about fieldwork.
His father had gambled away the tuition he’d saved up over semesters, and he’d been forced to work all summer to make up the money.
That day, Shen had felt like a needle stabbed him in the chest. After class, he detoured to the convenience store and handed him a bottle of sea buckthorn juice.
Gao Tu had kept that bright orange bottle tucked in the back of his bookshelf, untouched until it spoiled.
Halfway through the tea party, Hua Yong tripped on his own feet while getting a cupcake and stumbled into Sheng Shaoyou’s arms, blushing as he apologized.
The shameless lunatic was addicted to playing the delicate little thing. Shen Wenlang couldn’t bear to watch and turned his face away.
But his act seemed to work.
Sheng steadied him, frowning reproachfully:
“How are you so careless?”
Hua softly apologized again, letting Sheng guide him back to his seat under everyone’s watchful eyes.
For a moment, all eyes were on them. Everyone was dying to know who this gorgeous orchid daring to seduce the X Holdings heir’s fiancé in plain sight was.
Only Hua Yong himself seemed thoroughly amused, clearly enjoying Sheng’s attention and milking every opportunity to play the pitiful one.
Chang Yu was used to it, maintaining his polite professionalism as he watched his master and his “male fox spirit” flirt in public.
After the tea party, Sheng returned to Shengfang Biotech.
Hua Yong escorted him to the office before heading home alone.
On the way, his car was blocked by a silver-gray business vehicle.
“Sir, someone’s blocking us,” the driver said helplessly.
Hua leaned back with his eyes closed and murmured:
“Drive through them.”
“But… that’s Mr. Shen’s car.”
Hua opened his eyes to see Shen Wenlang getting out, face dark. He rolled down the window and said lazily:
“What a coincidence.”
“Coincidence? I’ve been chasing you with my horn blaring! Are you deaf?!”
“Could you speak nicely?”
“Find somewhere to talk. I need a word with you.”
Hua checked his watch and nodded:
“I can give you thirty minutes. But—”
“But what?”
“But I have plans tonight. I must leave after thirty minutes.”
“Twenty’s enough.” Shen eyed his wrist and sneered:
“When did you start wearing a watch?”
Hua draped his wrist on the window frame and showed it off:
“Mr. Sheng gave it to me.”
Shen rolled his eyes:
“Mr. Sheng, Mr. Sheng — don’t you ever get tired of saying that?”
“Nope.” Hua smiled.
“This life, next life — never tired.”
Shen picked a random club nearby. Once seated, the server brought tea and left.
“Gao Tu’s phone is a dead line now.”
“Oh.”
“‘Oh’? That’s all?”
Hua sipped his tea unhurriedly:
“When you cancel a number, it becomes a dead line. That makes sense.”
“Makes sense?! Why would he cancel his number?!”
“Who knows? Maybe to say goodbye to the past. To get away from toxic people or situations.”
“Toxic people?” Shen lit a cigarette.
He’d rarely smoked in the past — even Hua didn’t know he had the habit. Years ago, Gao Tu had nagged him into quitting.
But lately, Shen had been too agitated. Even two packs a day couldn’t drive away the thoughts of Gao Tu.
“What am I supposed to do now?” Shen growled, fingering the lighter Gao had given him.
“I can’t even find him.”
Hua raised his brows in surprise:
“You went looking for him?”
Shen grudgingly admitted it, then added:
“That house of his — it’s not even fit for living!”
Hua chuckled softly:
“You’re upset?”
“Who, me?!”
“Only you know.” Hua checked his watch and reminded:
“You’ve got eleven minutes left. Speak up.”
“He didn’t go home, didn’t take another job, canceled his phone, didn’t rent a new place under his name. Where could he be?”
“How should I know?”
“We were at least classmates and colleagues. If he’s in trouble, I could help.”
“Maybe he doesn’t need your help.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Hua blew on his tea, took a sip, then said:
“Secretary Gao already has his own child and will have his own family. Like you said — you’re just an outsider now. Why stick your nose in?”
That shut Shen up. He stared at him speechlessly.
His own child? His own family? Outsider?
But Gao hadn’t even registered a marriage with that Omega!
And until that disgusting Omega produced a notarized paternity test, Shen would never believe that kid was Gao Tu’s!
Damn it. Someone had stolen what was his! He wanted to throw that Omega into the river to feed the fish.
“Wenlang.” Hua gave him a friendly reminder:
“Gao’s father is still in Jianghu. Maybe contact him?”
Shen looked up warily:
“How do you know where Gao Tu’s father is?”
Even though Sheng wasn’t around, Hua still smiled kindly at this “love-impaired” man, his eyes full of pity:
“There’s an old saying — better to tear down a temple than break up a marriage. Saving a life builds merit. Wenlang, I’m saving you here. When you win Secretary Gao back, remember to thank me.”