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.

He once thought he was a lucky person. After searching for thirteen years, he finally "got what he wanted" and found Shen Shuyun, and then naturally got together with him, enjoying a happy relationship and a harmonious marriage. Therefore, he never deeply pondered where his feelings came from— the first time he saw Shen Shuyun, he had already imposed his obsession on him.

Ning Wan once thought Shen Shuyun was his white moonlight, but in the end, he realized he had been living with a false light all along.

If he could, he would rather never know that this light wasn't the one he sought.

This Hunan cuisine was not really that tasty and Ning Wan hardly touched his food. Tang Yichuan naturally noticed his distraction, so he only ate a few bites before putting down his chopsticks and said, "I'm full. Let's wrap it up? This meal is on me."

"How can I let a guest pay?" Ning Wan stood up, looked at the untouched dishes on the table, and turned his head to ask, "Is it because the dishes don't suit your taste? Why did you eat so little?"

Tang Yichuan laughed inwardly. Ning Wan was just a kid in his eyes and the anxious expression of wanting to go home was clearly written on his face. He cleared his throat and absentmindedly said, "No, I'm on a diet recently. You should ask me out less for meals and more for drinks instead."

Ning Wan looked at him and the urge to speak out everything faded again. So he nodded and said apologetically, "This meal is still on me, but I can't take you home, sorry."

"What's there to apologize for? Go quickly!"

Tang Yichuan bit his chopsticks and watched Ning Wan leave after paying the bill. He finally relaxed and picked up his chopsticks as he began to devour the dishes on the table.

Damn it, dieting as an excuse to brush off Ning Wan is too difficult! Although Ning Wan said he wanted to be friends, he was still his current superior. He wasn't new to the workplace and knew there was no reason for a subordinate to enjoy a feast while the boss sat troubled and hardly touch his food!

While stuffing the food into his stomach, he called out, "Waiter, another plate of spicy chicken!"

------

Ning Wan drove, the accelerator was pressed to the floor, speeding home.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the villa gives out some soft warm light. Ning Wan stood in the yard, staring at the orange light for a long time.

He wanted to see Shen Shuyun but was afraid to.

But having come this far, it would be too cowardly to turn back. Ning Wan gritted his teeth, pressed his finger on the fingerprint lock, and entered the home he shared with Shen Shuyun.

The room was quiet, with a lingering warmth from recently cooked food. A small light was left on in the hallway, perhaps to prevent anyone coming home from bumping into things. The two-step stairs were covered with thick, soft carpet, cushioning all the edges.

Ning Wan took off his shoes and walked in. The sound of attempting to call Shen Shuyun was stuck in his throat when he saw the person curled up on the sofa.

All the lights in the room were still on and Shen Shuyun was curled up in a corner of the sofa, sleeping without even a blanket. Ning Wan approached a little closer and saw Shen Shuyun's furrowed brows and a few messy flour marks on his face. He gently nudged Shen Shuyun and softly said, "Brother Yun, why are you sleeping here? Go to the bedroom, don't catch a cold."

Shen Shuyun, a light sleeper, woke up groggily and saw Ning Wan's face. Still dazed, he instinctively reached out to hug Ning Wan's waist, speaking without thinking, "Ning Wan, where have you been? I couldn't find you..."

These words made Ning Wan's heart tighten. He put his briefcase on the coffee table and gently patted Shen Shuyun's thin back. He realized that Shen Shuyun seemed to have lost weight and his shoulder blades felt bony.

Shen Shuyun nuzzled against Ning Wan's waist. Ning Wan lowered his head and took out a clean handkerchief from his pocket, gently wiping the flour off Shen Shuyun's face. He then softly asked, "Can I carry you upstairs to sleep?"

"Okay," Shen Shuyun held onto Ning Wan's clothes tightly, "You can't sneak away in the middle of the night."

Ning Wan bent down, picked him up, and steadily walked to the master bedroom upstairs. Shen Shuyun lay quietly in his arms, as light as a cloud.

That night, Shen Shuyun had a rare dream.

He dreamt of the tropical island he always wanted to revisit. Ning Wan stood in a vast expanse of golden sunlight, waving and smiling at him. The sunlight beautifully outlined his muscles and made his smile particularly warm. The wind rustled through the coconut trees, waves crashed against the rocks and a few seagulls wandered the beach in the distance looking for food. Everything was pleasant and comfortable, making Shen Shuyun smile even in his dream.

There is no dream that never ends— no matter how rare or beautiful it is.

Shen Shuyun opened his eyes, and the beach and blue sky disappeared, even the person beside him was gone.

But this time, the bed next to him wasn't perfectly made. Shen Shuyun reached out, and there was still some lingering warmth on the sheets, indicating that Ning Wan had indeed come back last night.

Shen Shuyun slowly leaned over, burying his face in Ning Wan's pillow, greedily inhaling the gin-scented pheromones.

He suddenly remembered, a long time ago, Ning Wan had asked him what his ideal type of alpha was. How did he answered back then?

He said he liked mature and steady alphas who seemed reliable.

But actually, Ning Wan wasn't that kind of alpha. Ning Wan was five years younger than him, rough around the edges, enjoyed liveliness. A lot of things we not considered thoroughly. Being a wealthy scion from a young age, he wasn't naturally considerate—far from his ideal type... So why did he fall so hard for Ning Wan?

Maybe it was Ning Wan's vigorous, fiery spirit, or perhaps it was his wet, pleading eyes when he acted coy, calling him Brother Yun.

It's been like this oftentimes, despite having a clear set of standards for a partner, by chance the person he choose to spend his life with often doesn't match his ideal type at all.

An ideal type is just a concept, no one would invest real emotions based on it. The only thing in this world that one truly reciprocates love for is equivalent love.

Shen Shuyun closed his eyes and thought, maybe Ning Wan had loved him too.

1. Some people hide a coin in the dumplings and anyone having it is regarded to have good fortunes in the new year.

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