After Marrying The Wrong Person, I Can’t Leave

Chapter 67

Tan Mingqing went abroad to play during the summer vacation. When he returned, he was delayed due to some matters. As he arrived at the school gate, he remembered that he hadn’t printed a document mentioned by his counselor earlier. He looked around but couldn’t find a print shop, so he wanted to ask someone for directions.

At first, he genuinely wanted to ask for directions, but little did he know that he would encounter an exceptionally handsome guy today.

As someone who appreciates beauty, Tan Mingqing had seen countless handsome men and beautiful women, but he had never seen someone as good-looking as this.

No filters, no photo editing, no makeup—just a naturally breathtaking beauty.

The moment Tan Mingqing saw Song Linchu’s face, he felt as if he had fallen in love.

But before he could exchange a few words with this beauty, he heard his uncle’s dreadful voice.

Tan Mingqing initially thought he had misheard. How could his little uncle be here?

His little uncle lived almost an hour away from here by car. Even if he happened to pass by and saw him, there was no way he would come over to greet him proactively.

There’s no way it could be Tan Yue, that aloof person. Absolutely not.

While trying to console himself, Tan Mingqing turned his head and saw the stern expression on his little uncle’s face, causing his entire body to freeze.

It turned out to be true!

Was it his fault for going out the wrong way today, or had he seen a ghost…?

Moreover, his little uncle was always someone who didn’t show emotions easily. But now, even Tan Mingqing, who wasn’t particularly good at reading people’s moods, could sense his displeasure, and ge felt an overwhelming pressure weighing down on him.

Tan Mingqing’s legs trembled slightly, and he stuttered, “Uncle, what are you doing here?”

Tan Yue thought to himself, ‘If I wasn’t here, wouldn’t you try to hit on my lover?”

Tan Yue didn’t know the timeline of Tan Mingqing and Song Linchu’s relationship, but he could be certain that Tan Mingqing only started pursuing Song Linchu in their sophomore year. In their freshman year, they had no connection whatsoever.

However, judging by the way Tan Mingqing looked at Song Linchu just now, it didn’t seem like he could wait until their sophomore year.

How could a face con like Tan Mingqing, wait until sophomore year after seeing Song Linchu’s exceptional looks?

But then again, if it weren’t for his orchestrations yesterday, Song Linchu would probably be studying in the dormitory or library right now, and wouldn’t be at the school gate.

So, it’s possible that his appearance had accelerated their meeting.

It would be best to eliminate this love rival early on.

“Let me help him,” Tan Yue said as he approached Song Linchu, his tone assertive.

He wished he could mark his territory over Song Linchu like an animal.

‘So, they know each other…,’ Although Tan Mingqing didn’t understand the relationship between his little uncle and the goodlooking student before him, he keenly felt his uncle’s possessiveness, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease.

At this moment, he heard his uncle coldly ask, “What did you want to ask him?”

“I… I just wanted to ask where the nearest print shop is.”

“Can’t you use the map on your phone?” Tan Yue replied icily.

“…” Why was his uncle being so harsh?

“Okay, alright. I’ll go and look for it again. Uncle, you must be busy.”

Tan Yue nodded with a sullen expression and Tan Mingqing quickly hurried away with his suitcase.

“Don’t associate with him,” Tan Yue said as he met Song Linchu’s bewildered gaze.

“…”

Song Linchu sensed Tan Yue’s unusual attitude. Based on his observations over the past few days, although Tan Yue was cold and dominant, he wasn’t the type to harm others.

From their conversation, it became clear that they were uncle and nephew.

He blinked his eyes and couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”

“He…” Tan Yue paused, seemingly uncomfortable with speaking ill of someone behind their back.

However, to prevent Song Linchu from being deceived by the tricks of this person who pursued others, Tan Yue briefly explained, “He likes goodlooking people, regardless of gender.”

“…”

Oh…

Tan Yue lowered his gaze, and seeing that Song Linchu was hesitant to speak. He asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Well…” Song Linchu forced a smile, “It’s quite normal to like goodlooking people, right? I also like good-looking people.”

Do beauty enthusiasts have no rights?

Although Tan Mingqing’s staring made him uncomfortable, Song Linchu had received many such gazes and had become numb to them.

As the saying goes, the love of beauty is universal.

“…” Tan Yue saw that this innocent college student completely failed to grasp the meaning behind his words and even defended the scumbag. He took a deep breath.

Breaking his usual practice of not speaking ill of others behind their back, Tan Yue said, “He spent a year pursuing a handsome boy, but after dating for two months, he cheated on him with the roommate of that boy and allowed his current boyfriend to say unpleasant things and even bully him.”

Although this was in the future, human nature doesn’t change.

Song Linchu’s eyes went wide, “What a scumbag!”

Seeing that he took it in, Tan Yue relaxed a bit and responded with a “Hmm.”

“Don’t associate with him,” Tan Yue instructed with a stern face, reiterating, “Don’t let his deceptive tricks fool you.”

In his heart, Song Linchu complained. The guy hadn’t even pursued him. He only spoke a few words to him, so there was no need to be so cautious.

But he knew Tan Yue meant well. Even when he was about to leave, he turned back to remind him, showing that this nephew of his was truly a scumbag.

Song Linchu smiled and said, “I understand. Thank you, Mr. Tan. Rest assured, I currently have no intention of being in a relationship, so I won’t give him a chance to deceive me.”

Tan Yue: ???

No intention of doing what?

Mr. Tan wasn’t reassured at all. Mr. Tan’s heart ached.

His lover was just too difficult to pursue.

He had been pursuing him for five chapters, but it seemed like his efforts were in vain!

However, Tan Yue was a patient person, especially when it came to someone he liked. He had plenty of enduring patience.

Besides, he had already dealt with the love rival in advance.

No need to rush, no need to rush…

This jewelry exhibition had given Song Linchu a lot of inspiration, so the draft he sent to Tan Yue could be considered his best work since entering this industry. Tan Yue was also very satisfied and didn’t ask for any revisions. He directly approved the draft.

Originally Song Linchu didn’t want to take money, but Tan Yue insisted on giving it. But thinking that the big boss didn’t care about such small amounts, Song Linchu decided to just accept.

As time progressed towards October, the scorching heat of the autumn tiger finally subsided, and the weather began to turn cooler.

This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day were staggered. Working on both occasions meant triple the salary, so it came as no surprise that Song Linchu’s Mid-Autumn Festival was dedicated to the coffee shop.

Tan Yue had the intention of spending the Mid-Autumn Festival with Song Linchu, but seeing his relentless pursuit of earning money, he felt guilty to invite him to a meal.

He wanted to give Song Linchu money, but Song Linchu didn’t engage in any means of unexpected fortune, nor did he buy lottery tickets. He earned his money honestly.

Asking the coffee shop to give him a bonus would be fine once or twice, but any more would arouse suspicion.

However, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Tan Yue employed his old tricks and “reserved” Song Linchu for the night at the coffee shop.

Due to the Mid-Autumn Festival, the streets were heavily congested, and it took Tan Yue an hour and a half to reach the coffee shop from his home.

By the time he arrived at the coffee shop, it was already 7 o’clock in the evening.

The attendant at the entrance recognized him as a valued guest and greeted him with a smile, saying, “Welcome, Mr. Tan, please follow me.”

The attendant respectfully led him to a private room. After sitting in the room for a while, a waitress approached, but it wasn’t Song Linchu—it was an unfamiliar female server.

“Where is Song Linchu?” Tan Yue furrowed his brow and asked directly.

The waitress smiled and said, “Mr. Song is dealing with a rather difficult customer at the moment. You may have to wait a little longer, Mr. Tan. Would you like to place an order now or wait for Mr. Song to come?”

Tan Yue’s voice turned serious. “Didn’t I say not to assign him any work tonight?”

Speaking to someone like Tan Yue was quite pressuring because he habitually spoke with the tone of a superior and had a cold demeanor. When faced with his question, the waitress felt her scalp go numb.

“N-no, it’s, um…” The waitress stuttered for a while without giving a clear explanation.

Under Tan Yue’s intense gaze, the waitress finally mustered the courage to speak honestly, “Originally, we didn’t assign him any work tonight, but it’s the Mid-Autumn Festival, and we have too many customers. We couldn’t keep up, so we asked him to help. Unfortunately, he accidentally spilled coffee just now, frightening a customer’s child. The matter hasn’t been resolved yet, so…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Tan Yue stood up directly and said, “Take me there.”

Not daring to delay, the waitress quickly led Tan Yue to where the incident occurred.

Song Linchu had been suffering from inflamed tonsils for the past couple of days so he felt unusually uncomfortable. However, considering the tripled salary, he gritted his teeth and came to work despite his discomfort. When the store manager informed him that Tan Yue had “reserved” him, he felt somewhat relieved because he was genuinely feeling unwell.

However, Tan Yue never showed up, and the shop was too busy to spare him. The store manager had him serve other customers first.

As he was carrying a tray with coffee into a private room, his vision suddenly blurred, causing him to accidentally spill the coffee on the floor.

In fact, he had dropped the cup at the entrance, and the sound didn’t reach the private room. However, the child of one of the customers was probably timid. He was frightened by the commotion and he immediately cry until he vomited.

The customer was furious, and it was not enough to reprimand him. He called the store manager and said that he frightened their child. They not only demanded a complimentary meal but also compensation of 3,000 yuan for the child’s mental distress.

Song Linchu had never dealt with children before, and he was taken aback by the sight of a child crying and vomiting.

Fortunately, the store manager was reasonable. He had children of his own and knew that crying often leads to vomiting in babies. The private room was a certain distance away, and the sound of the cup breaking wasn’t as loud as a car horn on the street. The chances of scaring the child were small.

Therefore, a complimentary meal was acceptable, but the store wouldn’t provide compensation.

Both sides were locked in a stalemate. When Tan Yue arrived, the customer was angrily accusing them of running a shady business, threatening to expose them and the like. The child had already stopped crying and was sleeping peacefully in their mother’s arms.

Song Linchu’s cheeks were flushed, and everyone thought it was because he was being berated by the customer and felt embarrassed. However, Tan Yue immediately sensed that something was wrong because Song Linchu’s eyes appeared somewhat unfocused.

Tan Yue immediately walked over, gently placing his hand gently on Song Linchu’s shoulder. “Linchu.”

Although Tan Yue exerted little force with this touch, Song Linchu’s body swayed.

He turned his head and saw Tan Yue. After a while, he sluggishly uttered two words, “Mr. Tan.”

Song Linchu felt a strange sensation in that moment. Despite not being acquainted with Tan Yue, his presence brought a comforting feeling.

“Is this the boss?” The male customer saw Tan Yue and his tone became slightly more respectful. “Perfect timing. Your staff frightened my child, but your store refuses to compensate. What do you plan to do about it?”

Tan Yue completely ignored him, furrowing his brow. He reached out and lightly touched Song Linchu’s forehead, feeling the intense heat.

Sensing the cool touch of the man’s hand on his forehead, Song Linchu tilted his head and made a questioning sound, “Hmm?”

“You have a fever,” Tan Yue said. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”

The store manager was surprised.

Everyone thought Song Linchu’s flushed face was due to being scolded by the customer and the embarrassment. They never expected it was actually a fever.

“Ah…” Song Linchu raised his hand and touched his head, saying, “Impossible, I don’t have a cold. How could I have a fever?”

Moreover, he was the one responsible for covering the cost of the complimentary meal. In this upscale coffee shop, even a casual expenditure would amount to several hundred or even thousands of yuan. Working for the entire day without earning anything was not enough.

He had no money to go to the hospital.

Tan Yue was distressed over his lack of care about his condition. He simply took Song Linchu’s hand and led him outside. Song Linchu was drowsy and slow to react due to his fever, so he didn’t feel anything amiss when his hand was pulled, and he even took a couple of steps with Tang Yue.

The customer saw that they were ignoring him so he stepped forward to block their way. “You can’t leave. We haven’t settled the compensation yet. Nobody is going anywhere.”

Tan Yue gave him a cold stare.

The customer inexplicably felt a chill running down his spine and he couldn’t help but shrink back.

“Store manager Wang,” Tang Yue spoke indifferently.

The store manager quickly approached. “Mr. Tan, what can I do for you?”

“Promise him, in the name of the coffee shop, that within the next three days, if his child exhibits any symptoms caused by the fright, compensate according to his demands. Also… this gentleman’s child is too precious to be accommodated by our establishment and related chain restaurants. We won’t serve them in the future.”

Although Tan Yue wasn’t the owner of this shop, he had made an investment and had some authority.

Upon hearing his words, the store manager immediately responded, “Understood, Mr. Tan.”

The man’s expression changed instantly.

This coffee shop was part of a major chain brand, involved in both dining and beverages. Being blacklisted would be catastrophic.

He wanted to say something, but Tan Yue was already half-supporting Song Linchu, leaving the coffee shop without even giving him a glance.

Song Linchu was supported out of the private room and when he saw Tan Yue leading him to the door, he realized that Tan Yue was really taking him to the hospital. He immediately struggled.

“No, Mr. Tan, I still have to work.”

Tan Yue, who had always been gentle and accommodating, was now displaying a remarkably assertive demeanor. He held onto Song Linchu’s hand firmly, showing no intention of letting go. He even whispered in a low voice, a veiled threat hanging in the air, “Will you go to the hospital with me willingly, or shall I carry you?”

Song Linchu: “…”

“Mr. Tan, please don’t joke around.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“…”

When Tan Yue became assertive, it was beyond the 18-year-old Song Linchu’s ability to resist. Seeing that Tan Yue truly intended to carry him, and already feeling dizzy and feverish from his illness, Song Linchu bit his lip and reluctantly chose to compromise.

Besides, he felt terrible, with a pounding headache and his vision turning dark in waves. There was no way he could continue working.

His tripled salary… Song Linchu’s heart was silently bleeding.

Tan Yue seemed to understand what he was thinking, and said: “The store will bear this kind of accidental complimentary meal, you only had me to serve me tonight, so I will apply to the coffee shop, and have the triple salary paid to you as usual.”

If Song Linchu were in a clear state of mind, he would definitely realize the hidden agenda behind all this.

But now, his brain was on the verge of turning into mush from the fever, leaving him with no mental capacity for contemplation. When he heard Tan Yue mention the tripled salary was still intact, he breathed a sigh of relief.

As soon as that tension dissipated, the drive that had been pushing him forward also dissipated. He was practically half-conscious when he was taken to the hospital.

At the hospital, the doctor measured his body temperature and discovered that it had risen to 39.3°C. Recognizing it as a result of inflamed tonsils, the doctor promptly arranged for intravenous fluids.

Song Linchu was already feeling uncomfortable, and as soon as he lay down on the bed, he drifted off into a drowsy sleep.

Tan Yue looked at his flushed face and frowned in distress. He wished he could be the one suffering instead.

He sat by the bedside, held Song Linchu’s hand which hadn’t been pricked for the IV, and pressed it against his lips for a gentle kiss.

Unexpectedly, the semi-conscious Song Linchu held onto his hand in return, even pulling it to his cheek and softly nuzzling against it. This obedient and reliant behavior made Tan Yue’s heart soften.

Then, he heard the youth murmuring unconsciously, “Mom…”

Tan Yue: “…”