The Jasmine Scented White Moonlight

Chapter 24 - Waking Up From a Dream

The lush trees outside the car window were shrouded in dim light, swiftly retreating.

Tang Yichuan looked out the window and said lightly, "President Ning, if you really have something to do, let's cancel this meal. You can stop the car ahead, and I'll take a taxi back myself."

He wasn't that interested in the Hunan restaurant, but Ning Wan had already invited him several times and he felt embarrassed to decline his superior's invitation again, so he agreed to go for dinner after handling the final contract issues today.

"No problem," Ning Wan exhaled as he irritably tugging at his collar and undoing two buttons. "It's my husband... I've already told him I won't be home for dinner tonight."

At that time, Ning Wan always thought that he and Shen Shuyun would have many more meals of dumplings together— they could squeeze into the kitchen on the winter solstice to make dumplings together and Shen Shuyun would surely laugh at his clumsiness. The ones that burst while cooking were definitely the ones he made and during the New Year, they could listen to the fireworks outside the window and see who would get the only coin in the dumpling and gaining good luck for the coming year, just like every year in the past.

Ning Wan suddenly remembered that in the past three New Year's Eve, it was always him who got the dumpling with the coin[1]. It was really quite a coincidence.

Tang Yichuan, sitting in the front passenger seat, lowered his head and rummaged through a shopping bag. He took out a can of coffee and placed it on the dashboard of the car. He smiled and said, "Thank you, President Ning. I'm used to drinking this kind of coffee in the US and can't get used to anything else... In our line of work, the pressure is too great, and we always stay up late drinking coffee. Only this brand gives a refreshing effect on me, and other brands don't have the same effect. I'm not familiar with W City and I'm too lazy to go out alone, so I haven't found a place to buy this kimd of coffee. It's really a hassle, but you took the time to bring me here to find it."

Ning Wan shook his head, "It's nothing."

"This brand also has a type with a more mellow and fragrant flavor, which tastes very good and is roasted to a nice aroma. I just got a can specifically for you so you could take it back for your lover to try."

Ning Wan was taken aback and looked at Tang Yichuan. His usually arrogant and indifferent face had inexplicably softened, as if he was naturally showing kindness to the unknown omega. Ning Wan took it and casually placed it in the car, "Thank you. He should like it. You've been busy with the lawsuit these days, you have worked hard. You've just started your job and yet you already have to work overtime often. It's really my fault as a boss for being too harsh."

"Ah, why so serious? Didn't we say we would be friends in private?" Tang Yichuan unbuckled his seatbelt and continued, "You're the one who's had it tough. Haven't you been rarely going home these days and sleeping directly in the office?"

Ning Wan held that can of coffee, his face darkening bit by bit. He pursed his lips, not knowing what to say.

In fact, the company's cash flow did have a minor issue these days, but it wasn't severe enough to keep him up all night in the office to solve it. Ning Wan just didn't dare to go home and didn't know how to face Shen Shuyun. It felt like there was a scale in his heart, with Shen Shuyun and Tang Yichuan on each side. He didn't dare to touch either one for fear of losing the other forever.

Using the excuse of friendship, he invited Tang Yichuan out for meals and occasionally went out for a drink, but that was all. There was no further action, nor had he ever talked to Tang Yichuan about the past. Since learning from other colleagues that President Ning was already married, Tang Yichuan had kept more distance from him. Ning Wan knew that dragging both sides like this was unfair to anyone. Until he figured things out completely, he could only be a coward, avoiding reality.