TT Chapter 40. Little Prince

That night, Chen Ting and Pei Yiyao stayed at home. Because Chen Ting was not feeling well, the two of them simply lay under the covers watching TV.

To be more precise, it was Chen Ting watching TV while Pei Yiyao had his laptop open, continuing to study.

Chen Ting often felt that, compared to Pei Yiyao, he was nothing more than a lazy salted fish.

After a moment of self-reflection, he happily resumed watching The Big Bang Theory. This was called learning through entertainment.

Pei Yiyao would occasionally glance up in curiosity, wondering what scenes in the show could make Chen Ting laugh that hard. But there were too many curly-haired characters, and none of them, he decided, looked better than Chen Ting, so he lost interest.

Around eleven o’clock, the joyful barking of Beef Noodle echoed from downstairs.

Half-asleep, Chen Ting rubbed his eyes and sat up. “What’s going on?”

Pei Yiyao listened closely. “Sounds like my parents are back.”

“Uncle and Auntie are back?!” Chen Ting immediately sobered up.

“It’s alright. I’ll go check.” Pei Yiyao got out of bed and told him to wait in the room. Then he went downstairs.

Sure enough, it was Ruan Xin who had returned. She was alone, stepping out of her heels and dragging a large suitcase behind her. Her makeup was still flawless, as if she had just stepped off the red carpet.

She looked up and saw her son coming down the stairs, visibly surprised. “You’re back?”

Pei Yiyao nodded. “Came back with Chen Ting.”

“Ting Ting is here too?” Ruan Xin’s smile immediately softened. She took the initiative to explain, “Your father has another meeting over there, so I came back first. Someone important is visiting the studio tomorrow.”

“Oh.” Pei Yiyao was long accustomed to their busy schedules and did not think much of it. He simply stepped forward to carry her suitcase upstairs.

Ruan Xin followed him up the stairs, her eyes unconsciously drifting toward his room. She had half a mind to go greet Chen Ting, but considering how late it was, she decided against it.

“It’s almost midnight. Go rest with Ting Ting. I’ll make breakfast for you both in the morning.”

Just then, Chen Ting peeked out from Pei Yiyao’s room. “Hi Auntie Ruan, I’m here again.”

Ruan Xin immediately left her son behind and went over to talk to Chen Ting. The two chatted affectionately. When Pei Yiyao came back from setting the suitcase down, they were still talking.

“Alright, you two go sleep now.” Seeing Pei Yiyao return, Ruan Xin ended the conversation on her own and headed back to her room.

But just as the door was about to close behind her, she paused, turned slightly, and looked back. Her brows furrowed faintly, as if something had occurred to her. After a long moment, she smiled, as if letting go of a thought that had been too unrealistic to begin with.

The next morning, Ruan Xin got up early to prepare a lavish breakfast for Pei Yiyao and Chen Ting. Pei Yiyao went for his usual run, and by the time he returned, Chen Ting was in the courtyard playing with Beef Noodle.

Beef Noodle had grown increasingly fond of Chen Ting. When she saw the two of them standing together, she hesitated only briefly before placing her toy at Chen Ting’s feet, inviting him to play.

Ruan Xin watched with a cup of coffee in her hand, smiling broadly. She even rewarded Beef Noodle with a treat.

Around noon, Pei Yiyao and Chen Ting began preparing to return to campus. Ruan Xin had brought back some souvenirs from her trip and went inside to grab a few for them to take back to school.

But when she stepped outside again, she saw Pei Yiyao sitting in the car, reaching over to fasten Chen Ting’s seatbelt. She paused, not walking out right away.

It was just a simple seatbelt fastening, nothing remotely suggestive, but Ruan Xin knew her son’s personality all too well.

The thought she had pushed down the night before now resurfaced, though she showed no sign of it. After a moment’s pause, she walked out with a smile, handed them the souvenirs, and reminded them kindly, “Take care of yourselves at school. If anything comes up, call me.”

“Thank you, Auntie Ruan,” Chen Ting said with a smile.

“Good boy.” Ruan Xin looked at Pei Yiyao. “Drive safe.”

The Hummer rolled out through the front gate. Ruan Xin stood at the door and watched until it disappeared from view, then scooped up Beef Noodle and returned to the house.

Back at campus, Chen Ting freshened up, divided some of the souvenirs among Yang Shulin and the others, and then headed off to the café for work. He had not been working there long, but he had already taken several days off, so he felt a little guilty. To make up for it, he showed up an hour early as unpaid time.

Pei Yiyao had something to do that afternoon and could not accompany him. And as luck would have it, Gao Duo happened to be in the café.

“Senior?” Chen Ting looked at the man slouched in the corner like a fallen delinquent. He was surprised to see dark circles under Gao Duo’s eyes. Gao Duo was usually obsessed with self-care. He did face masks all the time, even after staying up late. No matter how exhausted he was, he always managed to show up looking refreshed.

To see him looking like this, was truly rare.

“Ting Ting, you’re finally here.” Gao Duo’s voice held a trace of relief. He lifted a lazy hand and waved him over.

Chen Ting walked over, giving him a questioning look.

“Sit.” Gao Duo tapped the tabletop, then sat up a little straighter. “I need to confess.”

“Confess?” Chen Ting was completely at a loss.

“Being too attractive really is a curse.” Gao Duo looked deadly serious.

“…”

“Someday I need to go to a temple and make an offering,” Gao Duo said. “Cut down on all this peach blossom luck before it shortens my life. Want to come with me, Ting Ting?”

Chen Ting had no idea where to even begin roasting that, so he just shook his head and refused. “I’ve been pretty busy lately. The little free time I do have is already spoken for. If you really want someone to go with you, take Yang Shulin. Just promise to let him do a short interview and he’ll be all over it.”

Gao Duo raised a brow. “Ting Ting, you’re so heartless.”

Chen Ting nodded. “I am, after all, someone with a boyfriend now.”

That made Gao Duo laugh. He laughed for quite a while before spreading his hands. “It’s not that I don’t want to help Yang Shulin out, it’s just that the interview would be tough to write. What do I even have to show? At most, I’m good for some spicy gossip. If he tried to write about my archaeology work, who’d want to read it? I’ve got no accomplishments, no fortunate encounters, just a face. And Yang Shulin would never go for something that shallow. But gossip? That’s not a solo act. If he starts praising me, the people I’ve publicly embarrassed are going to lose it. You know how many people I’ve pissed off? Enough to fill a whole World Cup roster.”

Gao Duo spoke with the air of a man who could casually demolish warships with a few jokes. After a pause, he added, “Instead of chasing gossip, better to focus on your studies. No matter how good-looking these pretty boys and girls are, can they compare to Granny Xin Zhui?”

Chen Ting had the sudden urge to applaud him. That kind of perspective was exactly what made him a proper boss.

“Oh right, you said your schedule’s full. You making plans with Pei Yiyao?”

“Yeah. We’re going to Disneyland.”

Now it was Gao Duo’s turn to be speechless. But after a second’s thought, he figured it made sense. Chen Ting’s vibe did kind of match Disneyland. He looked like he’d fit right in with… the Seven Dwarfs.

“Be sure to say hi to Snow White for me.” Gao Duo’s mood cleared up. He stood and patted Chen Ting on the shoulder. “Have fun. I’m heading out.”

Chen Ting was left a bit confused. Snow White? Did Gao Duo secretly like fairy tales?

When Yang Shulin heard about it later, he muttered, “Don’t you think Senior would make a better Evil Queen?”

Chen Ting thought about it and had to admit, it was a surprisingly good fit. But if Gao Duo really were the Evil Queen, Snow White probably would not have made it out of the castle alive. No, he’d have killed the king and become the Queen in her own right.

Their mental image spiraled off track, and Yang Shulin kept going. “In that case, Pei Yiyao is the prince from a neighboring kingdom, and I’m the brave huntsman—diligent, righteous, handsome, charming…”

“What about me?” Chen Ting asked. “Am I Snow White?”

Yang Shulin paused. “Uh… maybe the king had another little prince.”

“Alright,” said Chen Ting. “I can work with that.”

“The little prince was persecuted by his evil stepmother,” Yang Shulin said. “She ordered me to take you into the woods and kill you, but I’m too noble and good to go through with it. I saved you. But then Pei Yiyao came along and stole you from me.”

“…”

“Pei Yiyao’s true form is a dragon. The Seven Dwarfs are actually his minions. He kidnaps the little prince, and I, the brave huntsman, set out on a perilous journey to rescue him. I storm the dragon’s lair, make a fortune, and rise to the top of society.”

“Hold on.” Chen Ting crossed his arms. “Weren’t you supposed to be saving me?”

“The little prince was perfectly happy dating the dragon. What was I supposed to do? I was helpless too!”

“The little prince decided to hold a grand wedding and invited the huntsman to attend. The huntsman would need to prepare a very generous red envelope.”

Chen Ting reached out to Yang Shulin, cupping his hands together like a bowl and blinking up at him like a child asking for candy.

Yang Shulin clutched his chest in pain and turned around to grab an apple, placing it in Chen Ting’s hands. “This is all I have to my name.”

But Chen Ting glanced sideways at the other two apples still sitting on the table and pushed his hands out again. Yang Shulin was furious. This was what people meant by getting a boyfriend and forgetting your sworn brother, but there was nothing he could do in the face of Chen Ting’s pleading look. With a sigh, he handed over another apple.

That evening, the little prince met with Mr. Dragon at the library. The little prince happily offered him one of the apples.

Mr. Dragon gave the little prince a milk tea in return.

Soon, the day of their Disneyland trip arrived. They planned to drive themselves, staying one night at the resort hotel, so the schedule was relaxed and flexible.

Chen Ting had handled the tickets and hotel bookings. Rarely in the position of playing the rich one, he was feeling very pleased with himself. He tossed out several thousand yuan without even blinking, so proud that even the curls on his head seemed to perk up.

“Go!” Chen Ting hopped into Pei Yiyao’s car with his backpack on, striking a pose like a seasoned navigator. Today he had even borrowed Yang Shulin’s bucket hat. He wore a brand-new blue and white striped windbreaker, cropped pants, and clean white sneakers. The overall look was pure milk-cute from head to toe.

Clinging to his backpack was the same clawed, over-the-top decorative mitten crab, a timeless fashion statement.

Pei Yiyao leaned over to fasten his seatbelt, his lips curving almost imperceptibly. Still, he said in his usual cold tone, “Pull your pant cuffs down.”

Chen Ting clutched his backpack tightly. “No.”

“You’ll catch a chill.”

“…This is fashion.”

The cool guy clearly did not understand fashion. He leaned down and gave a quick tug, instantly restoring the so-called cropped pants to their original length.

Chen Ting was furious. All this dressing up for nothing.