Part 2
Wen Rong responded vaguely.
“Does Jincheng take good care of you at school? That child doesn’t like to talk, and sometimes his attitude is bad. Don’t be angry with him.”
“Not at all, Senior is very good to me.”
“It’s so lucky he knows you. Now everyone comes to me to order clothes from him. Before, no one knew how good his skills were. Over at his father’s side too…”
Wen Rong knew this was a taboo subject and quickly interjected: “It’s Senior who is more amazing.”
“How could he be more amazing than you… These legs are really long; the pants will need a different size from the jacket.”
…
“These legs are really long; the pants will need a different size from the jacket.”
Just as Wang Sichen walked to the door, he heard this voice.
The compliment was too obvious, attracting him to look inside the door, wanting to see which big shot happened to be here too.
Seeing the person inside with long limbs, completely worthy of the description “long legs,” Wang Sichen’s mature shell suddenly peeled off. He was shaken again and again, shockingly revealing the infatuation of a young boy.
A few steps away, the mirror reflected a snowy-white face, handsome features, and eyes that took on a glass-like quality under the lights.
Such a person, obediently raising his hands and turning around listening to the owner’s arrangements, like a good child.
Wang Sichen was truly moved. For the first time in his life, he had a “psychedelic” physiological reaction to a person, as if looking at him again would make him faint with joy at any moment.
The secretary noticed his abnormality and also looked into the lounge. The moment he saw Wen Rong, he understood and stood obediently silent.
The group stood weirdly in the corridor like this, not making a sound.
Until a certain moment, the two people who finished measuring met the covetous gaze from outside the door. The shallow eyes revealed a bit of surprise.
Wang Sichen stood up straight, subconsciously revealing an ingratiating smile.
The air was silent for two seconds. The person inside reached out and pulled the owner behind him, a posture of total alertness.
Wang Sichen’s heart was hot; he was completely unaware of these small reactions and even took the initiative to enter and greet: “Little Classmate, we meet again. What a coincidence.”
Wen Rong nodded indifferently. “Hello.”
“Here to order clothes?”
Wen Rong asked back: “You are also here to order clothes?”
Wang Sichen’s gaze sized him up ambiguously for a moment before laughing, “It must be fate. I need a set of clothes, and you also need a set of clothes. Boss Zhang, from now on, put everything this Little Classmate orders at your shop on my tab.”
Wen Rong declined, “Thank you for your kindness, but I can pay for it myself.”
Mother Zhang had seen much of the world and knew this was the favorite style of that circle—put whatever so-and-so buys on my tab—just like keeping a little lover.
So she said: “Wen Rong is family. Ordering clothes at home costs nothing.”
“Family…” Wang Sichen muttered in a low voice for a moment, then suddenly looked at Wen Rong with burning eyes: “Do you know how to measure? You come measure me.”
Mother Zhang: “Sorry, Wen Rong—”
Wang Sichen’s expression changed suddenly, interrupting coldly, “Isn’t he your family?”
He was family, but not a shop assistant; there was no logic in helping with the shop’s work.
But Wang Sichen began unbuttoning his suit, his posture indicating he intended to make Wen Rong help measure.
Wen Rong understood. This was harassment.
This time, without Zhou Xie standing by for real-time interpretation, he could feel the dirty love within it. It was as if he had returned to a few months ago, reading those obscene comments on the anonymous forum.
Aside from status and age, Wang Sichen was actually no different from Zhao Zeyang.
What Wen Rong found even more ridiculous was that Wang Sichen, a high-ranking senator, was thick-skinned to the extreme. He had treated Senior Zhang Jincheng so cruelly at the school anniversary, yet now he dared to come to Senior Zhang Jincheng’s family shop and boss people around.
Wen Rong took a deep breath. Just as he was trying to think of how to refuse without affecting Mother Zhang, a string of footsteps sounded in the corridor.
Immediately, Shi Ye entered with a cup of coffee. “Finished measuring?”
Mother Zhang was relieved of a heavy burden. “Just about.”
“The coffee next door is pretty good.” Shi Ye tipped his head back to take a sip, then naturally handed it to Wen Rong. “You taste it.”
Wen Rong paused, then reached out to take it.
“Taste it.”
“Oh, oh.”
Wen Rong took a small sip. He didn’t taste anything special. Turning his head, he saw Wang Sichen’s face was ashen, staring gloomily at Shi Ye.
“I saw a rice cake shop on the way here. Come on, I’ll take you to try it.”
Shi Ye gave Wang Sichen no look at all, reaching out to pull him.
Wen Rong hesitated for a moment, worried that Mother Zhang couldn’t handle Wang Sichen well. But on second thought, Wang Sichen was looking for trouble because of him; if he stayed, he might cause more chaos. So he followed Shi Ye downstairs.
Walking to the door, Shi Ye spoke: “Next time you meet Wang Sichen, turn and walk away. Don’t talk to him.”
“Mm-hm.”
Wen Rong agreed, then couldn’t help asking: “Are there many people like him… like Zhao Zeyang, who have those abnormal thoughts about me?”
Shi Ye turned back angrily. “Who told you that?”
“…”
“Nothing of the sort. Don’t listen to their nonsense.”
Wen Rong sighed. “Since I was little, not many people taught me. There are many things I don’t know. If you still consider me a friend, you should tell me. Only by knowing the situation can I think of ways to protect myself.”
The expression on Shi Ye’s face shifted slightly. He probably thought it over carefully before finally compromising. “I understand. I’m sorry about this time. Next time there’s a situation, I’ll tell you immediately.”
“Okay.”
Because Shi Ye still had training tasks, the two returned directly to the manor after eating rice cakes.
That night, Wen Rong couldn’t calm his mind. It was already his usual bedtime, yet he couldn’t fall asleep. As soon as he closed his eyes, he would recall the image of Wang Sichen standing outside the door.
Such images occasionally turned into Zhao Zeyang, then Wang Allen… like several movies switching incessantly. He sank deeper into the chaos, almost regarding himself as a piece of meat anyone could bite.
Until he heard his phone vibrate.
Zhang Jincheng: [My mom said your clothes are altered. Go to the shop tomorrow to try the fit.]
Wen Rong thanked Zhang Jincheng. Just then, news popped up from the top of his phone screen.
《President Zhou to be absent from the Tennis Open Finals; President Zhou’s son will take over the opening ceremony.》
So Zhou Xie had been busy helping his father with work during this time.
It seemed he was fully preparing to fight Wang Sichen for the President’s position.
Thinking about it this way, maybe in the future he could tell others that he knew the President, knew the champion of the Tennis Open, and even…
“Brother.”
Wen Rong called the System in the dark.
【What’s wrong?】
“I used to say I wanted to become as excellent as Shi Ye and the others, but I haven’t achieved anything yet.”
【Host was very successful at the school anniversary.】
“But that shouldn’t count as my achievement.”
With that, Wen Rong raised his hand, grasping at something non-existent in the void. “I just realized that I don’t hold much in my hands, and I seem…”
【Seem what?】
“Always very passive in certain aspects.”
Unaware of the impending crises he was about to meet, appearing to always be solving difficulties brought to him by others. They came one by one, endless, troubles unceasing.
Tossing and turning in bed for nearly an hour, Wen Rong confirmed he couldn’t sleep. He got up, dressed, and decided to go look at the magnolia flowers Shi Ye had pointed out to him.
Upon approaching, he happened to see the lights on in the tennis court. Guessing Shi Ye was still training, he decided to walk further in.
Pow, pow, pow.
Before he reached the door, he heard people talking inside, accompanied by the ceaseless sound of hitting balls.
Wen Rong realized there were many people accompanying Shi Ye in his busyness. If he went over, he might disturb them. So he stopped, simply sitting by the roadside, quietly listening to the pow-pow of the ball strikes.
The wind was warm, blowing over a few magnolia flowers.
A patch of orange light flashed across his eyelids. Wen Rong moved his eyelids and heard a voice.
“Awake?”
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