V1C14

Translator: Anne Noh

"Manager Shu, someone is looking for you."

"Hmm?"

"He said he comes to give something to you."

"Okay, let him in."

He had informed Ke Luo the company's address in the morning a day after he had received Ke Luo's number and the clothes delivery came in the afternoon. The service was quite fast.

"Hey...Shu Nian..."

Shu Nian quickly raised his head. He had expected a worker from the dry cleaning to greet him at the door, but it was Ke Luo who was wearing a baseball cap.

"Why did you send it yourself?" Shu Nian was quite surprised and smiled. He hurriedly stood up and pulled the chair opposite of him to allow Ke Luo to sit, "why don't you let someone else deliver it?

"Oh...I just finished my class, so I drop by..." Ke Luo took off his hat and smiled shyly.

"That's why..." Shu Nian thought that it was strange for him to not wearing his uniform since he said he had just finished his class, but he decided to ignore it, "Thank you. I'm about to finish. Do you want me to drive you home?

"Sure." Ke Luo nodded his head and looked at him while smiling.

The last time he saw Ke Luo, he had just finished a game. He was quite sweaty and his face was gloomy. Today he looked fresh and energetic. He was wearing a simple ADIDAS sport jacket and jeans and it actually looked good on him.

Although Ke Luo was still young, it was obvious that he would grow into a very handsome man in a couple of year. It was good to be young. Shu Nian was quite jealous.

Turning over to look at the folder, he suddenly noticed the brand of Ke Luo's jacket when he bowed down. Shu Nian took a closer look and couldn't stifle a laugh: "Ke Luo... you went out without removing the brand tag?

Ke Luo quickly touched the tag around his neck that he forgot to remove. He was lost for a word and even his ears were red in embarrassment. Shu Nian took a paper cutter and helped him to remove the tag and felt that it was very amusing.

"Did you wear new clothes just to see me?" Shu Nian wanted to tease him more when Ke Luo looked so embarrassed and blushing terribly, "So cute. Young guy wants to have a date with uncle?"

Ke Luo pursed his lips and even his neck turned red. He only looked down and fiddled with the things on the table.

Shu Nian suddenly felt that he was a very evil old man.

"That's right."

"Huh?"

"You...are you free tonight?" Ke Luo raised his blushing face and asked firmly.

"Eh?"

"I want to invite you to dinner." He looked serious.

"Ah?"

"Is it okay?"

"Ah?"

"Can I have dinner with you?"

"Dinner..."

"Is it okay?"

Shu Nian was in a tight spot and he didn't have time to think about it and nodded thoughtlessly: "Sure, let's have dinner together."

Ke Luo let out a smile as if he had accomplished a great mission.

Ke Luo brought Shu Nian to a seafood restaurant for dinner. The restaurant wasn't luxurious but the interior decoration was very interesting. It was decorated with shellfish and exhibit rustic charm. It was like sitting at the seaside and eating seafood that was freshly caught by fishermen. The most interesting foods for Shu Nian were the conch shells, small birds covered in hot chilies and piping hot and spicy soup. Shu Nian wasn't good in eating spicy foods and he was sweating profusely. His nose was red and he kept on blowing his nose and in a bad condition.

Before he worked with Xie family, he must strictly comply with etiquettes so that he wouldn't ruin Xie family's status. He had always felt inferior and aware of his own position. He was always cautious of etiquettes in fear he might anger anyone.

It had been a long time since he had a runny nose and eating sloppily. He felt relaxed in that casual atmosphere even though he was sitting in front of the youngest master of Ke family and didn't feel constrained at all. Obviously Ke Luo also thought the same as he directly sucked the spicy dish and telling jokes on his school.

Both of them thought they looked ridiculous rubbing their runny noses and mercilessly teased each other. The mood lifted and they even had a huge serving of beer. They completely ignored the fact that one of them was a minor and another one has alcohol intolerance.

They sobered up when they were greeted with cold wind once they walked out from the restaurant. Shu Nian felt quite embarrassed with his behavior since a 30 years old man didn't behave like an adult. He was quite embarrassed to look at Ke Luo with his flushed face.

"Your face is quite red." Ke Luo stared at him for quite a while.

"Really...?" Shu Nian was slightly embarrassed and scrunched his brow. His flushed face must have looked stupid.

"So cute."

"What...?" Shu Nian didn't hear clearly just now and when he was just about to ask, he saw someone secretly looking at them. He turned over and pretended like nothing had happened.

Ke Luo also looked over and he looked disgusted. He slight murmured "really ruin the mood" and then he pulled Shu Nian: "We should go."

"Sure. It's already late. Your family will be worried, right? I'll send you home."

"Family?" Ke Luo laughed. "If you are referring to people in Ke family, then I don't live with them."

"Eh?"

"They don't let me stay in Ke main house. I live on my own in a small apartment. Do you want to come over?

Entering the car, Ke Luo scrunched his brow and suddenly grabbed the steering wheel: "I will drive."

"Wh..." Shu Nian was caught off guard, and didn't have a choice but to change their positions. Ke Luo was driving dangerously and Shu Nian involuntarily screamed.

"Don't...Hey, slow down. It's dangerous. Hey..."

What kind a joke is this? They were driving right after drinking and they might get a ticket if they didn't abide the law. Their action was simply equivalent to asking the police to arrest them.

Ke Luo turned a deaf ear and sullenly swore in a low voice while he violently testing Shu Nian's pitiful heart's tolerance by playing Need for Speed on the road. The scared Shu Nian turned pale and gapping his mouth because he was unable to say anything. He sat back and look ahead while resigning to his fate.

After countless of sharp turns, Ke Luo finally hit the brake and stopped the car. He fiercely hit the steering wheel with his fist and sat still for a moment. Biting his lips, he suddenly said to Shu Nian: "This is it...I won't come looking for you anymore."

"...What?" Shu Nian was perplexed.

"I am very happy today..." Ke Luo said with a gloomy look, "I'm really happy to be with you...I'm really thankful to you for tonight..."

Shu Nian looked at Ke Luo's sad face and saw his bangs stuck on his dampened forehead. Shu Nian couldn't help but to reach out and fixed his hair: "What is it? You should explain everything."

Ke Luo bit his lips angrily and silently looked at his hands in a daze. Then he furiously said: "Sorry, I didn't tell you sooner...I will handle it. It's very troublesome.

"Hmm?" Shu Nian consoled him by rubbing his head, "What is it?"

"Actually those people...That you also saw moments ago are specifically to observe me. It's really annoying. At any rate...they will bring trouble to whoever I'm with...All my old friends ran away in fear...They are Ke family's henchman. Everyone looked down on me at first...they treats me like a dog...Later on, grandpa made a will and they rushed to me to persuade and threatening me...Who care about them! I'll just burn all those inheritance so that they won't get anything!" Ke Luo said with a slight incoherent, "Whenever I make a new friend, they think that the person only befriending me to rob their gold mine...They are scared that the inheritance will fall into the hands of outsiders...They are like a mad dog who will bite other people and won't let go...It's really annoying..."

"Even to you too...This is the second time we meet and I don't know why they are scared...You already saw how they followed us the whole time and how hard to get rid of them! Anyway...forget about it. You won't even care about me after this." Ke Luo was in distress, "I will only give you trouble and won't bring anything good...Okay then. I'll go up first. Goodbye. Good night."

"What the...wait a minute," Shu Nian revealed a smile and pulled Ke Luo's wrist, "You obviously said you want to invite me to your apartment."

Ke Luo was still angry and not facing him.

"Going back on your words."

"B...but..."

"It's okay. I'm single and no string attached. I work with Xie family, what can they do to me? You don't have to be worried."

"...You will hate me later on." Ke Luo hesitated for a while and said weakly.

"How can I?" Shu Nian smiled and hit Ke Luo's head, "Let's go. [1] Sorry for the inconvenient that might occur by going to your house, young master Ke."

Originally he had planned to send Ke Luo and then hurried home since it was already late and he was afraid that Xie Yan might get mad. But going home seemed quite heartless judging by the pitiful look on Ke Luo's face.

The location and interior of Ke Luo's apartment was quite good. The furniture was almost complete, it was quite messy but it was very clean. The shelves and desks were stacked with layers of things. It was the typical high school student's room.

Shu Nian felt that it would be cold to live in the apartment. He didn't know if it was because the room was too spacious and empty or maybe because the tone was cold.

"It's quite empty, right?" Ke Luo put down two cups of hot drinks and placed two cushions on the carpet. Then he switched on the television and finally the apartment turned slightly lively. They sat cross-legged and casually looking around.

"You can bring your girlfriend home often to accompany you and help you to clean the house. It's really good."

"Girlfriend?" Ke Luo smiled.

"Why?"

"Oh, no..." Ke Luo shook his head and pouted, "I don't have anyone. I'm an eligible bachelor~"

"Liar," Shu Nian thought that Ke Luo was cute, "How can that be? How can no one like a handsome guy like you?"

Ke Luo suddenly blushed. It looked like he was very happy and he was slightly bewildered: "Really...?"

"Yes," Shu Nian continued to make him happy, "You are very handsome...No one ever praise you? I think you are not that bad and very easy to be like by others." Although it wasn't a lie, but how could Shu Nian said it in a normal occurrence with his personality. He really went all out for that brat.

"Oh..." Ke Luo bit his lip and his face flushed, "Hmm...can I see you again?"

"Of course you can." Shu Nian immediately agreed.

"How about tomorrow?"

"Huh?" Looking into Ke Luo's eyes, Shu Nian felt that he was all alone and very lonely hence he nodded, "Sure. What do you want to do tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow night...Let's watch a movie? There's a very good newly released movie, but no one want to go with me..."

"Alright." Shu Nian's heart softened once he heard the latter part.

"What about the day after tomorrow? "

"Ah?" Shu Nian was slightly overwhelmed.

"The day after tomorrow is weekend...I want to go to the beach, but I still didn't take a driving license test. I might get arrested if I drive by myself..."

"Okay...I'll take you there."

"Will you be free during weekends?"

"...Yes."

"Can you stay with me?"

"..."

"It's very lonely to be alone at home..."

"Hmm, okay. I'll stay with you."

"Really?"

"Yes, indeed." Shu Nian to touch his soft hair tenderly and Ke Luo smiled brilliantly at him.

Regarding Ke Luo, Shu Nian only felt that he was pitiful and cute. Although there was no generation gap but with 12 years old age gap, it was enough to stimulate his paternal side. After all, he was already a 30 years old man.

[1] This line is what we always say when we go to someone's house. The closest English equivalent is 'sorry for the intrusion' but it's not quite the same...

Please note that some part might be incorrect as I don't know how to translate it to English. Mistakes are bound to happen and corrections are very welcome.