TT Chapter 44. Jealousy

The idea of opening a shop was eventually shelved. The reason was simple: Chen Ting was too lazy to manage anything, and Pei Yiyao, still fully immersed in his studies, did not want to split his focus. So in the end, he just took the money and put it into investments.

Chen Ting had no clue about any of that, so he never asked. What did surprise him, however, was that a month later, Pei Yiyao somehow ended up teaming up with Gao Duo.

At first, Chen Ting had no idea. It was Yang Shulin who came storming into the dorm to tell him, all fired up. “Did you know? Pei Yiyao and Gao Duo are drinking coffee together at some café outside campus.”

Chen Ting froze for a second. The first thing that popped into his head was, “They didn’t get into a fight, did they?”

Yang Shulin gave him a helpless look. “My dear Ting Ting, can you start taking things a little more seriously?”

Chen Ting replied with full confidence. On second thought, the combination of Cool Guy and Beauty Senior was actually kind of thrilling. It sounded spicy.

Yang Shulin was at a loss for words. He did not really believe there was anything romantic going on between Cool Guy and Beauty Senior. After all, those two had never gotten along. Seeing them now, sitting together and sipping coffee as if nothing had ever happened, was as surreal as imagining the department head suddenly growing a full head of hair. It was just unsettling.

Chen Ting asked, “Where’d you hear that gossip?”

“From the group chat… uh, I mean, from our press corps group chat.” Yang Shulin nearly slipped up and quickly covered with a laugh. In truth, he had heard it from Tang Yin. At that very moment, she was sipping afternoon tea at the same café, casually keeping an eye on Pei Yiyao to make sure he did not try anything disloyal to Chen Ting.

She had only ended up there by chance. She and a few of her girlfriends had been playing mahjong on the second floor next door. When everyone got hungry, they played rock-paper-scissors to decide who would go downstairs for snacks.

Not long after, Yang Shulin’s phone rang. It was Tang Yin.

“Shulin, where are you? Are you coming or not?”

Yang Shulin glanced cautiously at Chen Ting, who was deep in thought. In a low voice, he said, “Why would I come? Just to watch gossip unfold? Are you sure Cool Guy isn’t going to kill us both on the spot?”

“I’m trying to set you up, okay? The weather’s perfect today—clear skies and bright sun. It’s now or never.” Tang Yin tapped the table. “All my girlfriends are here. Are you coming or not? If not, I’m leaving.”

Yang Shulin smacked his thigh. “I’m coming!”

Chen Ting immediately turned to him. “Coming where?”

Yang Shulin replied instinctively, “Tang Yin’s introducing me to someone.”

“Oh, really…” Chen Ting’s eyes gleamed. He grabbed a baseball cap from the side and pulled it down over his head. “Let’s go. I’ll come with you.”

“Wait—hey—” Yang Shulin barely had time to react before Chen Ting had already dragged him out of the dorm and toward the campus gate.

The whole way there, Chen Ting had a cheerful smile on his face. He looked like he was in an especially good mood.

Yang Shulin, on the other hand, was a nervous wreck. On one hand, he was excited about the possibility of meeting someone who might make his heart flutter and wanted to make a good impression. On the other hand, he was terrified that Chen Ting would walk straight into Pei Yiyao and Gao Duo and trigger a disaster.

He was convinced that if Chen Ting showed up, Pei Yiyao and Gao Duo would absolutely get into a fight.

There was no particular reason. Just a gut feeling.

“Ting Ting, there’s something I need to tell you first,” Yang Shulin said after hesitating for a while. “The place Tang Yin picked is that same café where Pei Yiyao and Gao Duo are right now. There’s a good chance they’re still there.”

Chen Ting suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked at Yang Shulin with a solemn expression. As Yang Shulin grew increasingly nervous, he said, “I already know.”

“Huh?”

Chen Ting patted his shoulder like a seasoned older brother. He could not bring himself to keep the truth hidden any longer. “That CP group of yours, and all those fanfics and pictures, I know everything.”

Yang Shulin completely froze, staring wide-eyed at him, too stunned to respond.

Chen Ting dropped another bomb. “Actually, that ‘Gou Fugui’ in your group is Gou Ge.”

He had seen through it all from the start. Even if he did not walk the campus halls flaunting it, his name still echoed far and wide.

Yang Shulin was stunned, completely lost.

Even when they had already taken their seats at the café and greeted Tang Yin and her friends, Yang Shulin still had not recovered. Meanwhile, Chen Ting was effortlessly chatting with the girls across from them, relaxed and confident, making them all break into that familiar auntie-smile.

“Say something,” Chen Ting whispered, tugging at Yang Shulin’s sleeve under the table. He had worked so hard to keep the atmosphere upbeat. If Yang Shulin did not seize the moment now, then when?

But Yang Shulin’s mind was not on dating at all. He glanced at Tang Yin sitting across from him, then pulled out his phone and discreetly sent her a message.

YSL: Chen Ting knows about the group. Did you know that?

Big Tang-jie: ???

YSL: He knows!

Big Tang-jie: Stay calm.

Tang Yin was just as shocked. She glanced sideways at her friends, who were now smiling politely like refined ladies, as if the shouting and shoving over a clean hand of tiles had all been a hallucination. Then she looked at Chen Ting, who was blushing shyly.

She steadied herself.

Big Tang-jie: Life is a play, and all the world’s a stage, my friend.

YSL: But I’m the only guy in that group. What if Chen Ting starts thinking I’m not straight?

That was Yang Shulin’s greatest fear. Tang Yin stayed quiet for a moment, but she soon came up with a flawless response.

Big Tang-jie: It’s not like Ting Ting would fall for you anyway. He already has Five-kuai.

Yang Shulin thought it over and realized she was right.

With newfound clarity, Yang Shulin decided to let go of all his anxieties and focus on the group date. He was going to be a warm, attentive guy. But across the table, Chen Ting kept glancing back and forth between Yang Shulin and Tang Yin. The two of them were being oddly secretive. Everyone was sitting together, yet they were still sneaking messages back and forth under the table. It was obvious something fishy was going on.

The girl sitting across from Chen Ting happened to meet his gaze. From the look in her eyes, he could tell she was thinking the same thing he was. Neither of them said a word, but the message was clear.

Everyone at this table had their own hidden agendas.

And at the other table, people were starting to get restless too.

Gao Duo sat by the window with one hand propped against his cheek. He looked as laid-back as the afternoon sunlight. Stirring his coffee slowly, he watched the table behind the antique shelving. He said lazily, “Look at how much fun Ting Ting is having chatting with those girls.”

From their angle, they could only see the back of Chen Ting’s head, which occasionally peeked out from behind the shelf. But they could clearly see one of the girls sitting across from him. Judging by her expression, the conversation was going quite well.

Although Pei Yiyao was facing away from them, he could still catch glimpses of what was happening through the mirrored reflection on the glass. His face, as always, remained calm and sharp, revealing nothing of the emotions in his eyes.

“Aren’t you curious what they’re talking about?” Gao Duo continued to prod him in that slow, lazy voice.

“If you’re that free, why don’t you go over and listen for yourself,” Pei Yiyao replied. His tone was even colder than his expression.

Gao Duo shrugged indifferently and went back to lounging by the window, silently watching the table of younger students flirting across the room. A short while later, Chen Ting got up to use the bathroom. Pei Yiyao stood up and followed.

Gao Duo let out a dramatic sigh. “Why is it always me, sitting here all alone?” He raised a hand and called over the server. “I’ll have a slice of cake.”

Over in the restroom, they were not alone this time.

Chen Ting knew this place well, but he had no interest in reminiscing today. He chose the stall at the very end, finished up quickly, and went straight to the sink to wash his hands.

Someone was already standing there. The space in front of the sink was only big enough for about three people, so Chen Ting stood to the person’s right. That left Pei Yiyao to stand on his left.

Their poor straight friend had soap all over his hands and no way to retreat.

“We were talking about an investment,” Pei Yiyao said directly.

“I came with Yang Shulin for the group date,” Chen Ting replied calmly.

Their straight friend focused all his energy on washing up, as if hoping the sound of rushing water would block out everything he was hearing. For a moment, he felt disoriented. Had these two come out already?

Had they?

Had they not?

He had no idea. Either way, he was finished washing and made a quick exit, leaving the scene behind.

The moment the third wheel left, Pei Yiyao moved in and blocked Chen Ting’s path. Looking at him helplessly, he asked, “Are you mad?”

Chen Ting shook his hands dry. “Why would I be mad?”

“You’re not jealous?”

“Nope.”

Now it was Pei Yiyao’s turn to sulk. He knew Chen Ting would never misunderstand him, and even if he did, Gao Duo would be the last person he would suspect.

“Then I’m jealous,” Pei Yiyao said.

“Oh, come on. Let’s go back out.” Chen Ting could not stop laughing. This was not how jealousy worked. Pei Yiyao was clearly not jealous at all. He was just fishing for attention.

But Pei Yiyao had already made up his mind to get something out of him. He suddenly tightened his hold around Chen Ting and leaned down, pressing his lips to his.

Chen Ting knew that this was one of those moments when going along with him would not work, but pushing back too hard would not help either. After a moment, he gently pushed Pei Yiyao away, then stood on tiptoe and pecked him lightly on the lips. “Alright, can we go back out now?”

Only then did Pei Yiyao let it go. He took Chen Ting’s hand and strode out of the restroom with him.

Inside one of the stalls, their other straight friend crouched silently, afraid to make a sound.

Damn it, my legs are numb.

Back at the table, Yang Shulin and Tang Yin were still chatting happily. After a while, when Chen Ting still had not returned, Yang Shulin glanced toward the restroom, looking puzzled.

Tang Yin quickly tugged on his sleeve and pointed toward Pei Yiyao’s table. “Over there.”

Yang Shulin muttered, “How’d he get stolen away again that fast?”

The girl across the table giggled. “He already belonged to someone else to begin with.”

Yang Shulin did not quite agree. As Chen Ting’s closest confidant, he still counted as extended family on the maternal side.

Chen Ting returned to the table and greeted Gao Duo. As soon as he sat down, the server arrived with a cup of coffee, the exact flavor Chen Ting usually ordered.

Gao Duo smiled. “Have a taste. I heard they changed beans recently. It’s supposed to be better.”

“Thanks.” Chen Ting took a sip as instructed. Sure enough, the flavor had improved noticeably. But he had not forgotten why he came here, and asked curiously, “Senior, you’re getting into investing too?”

Gao Duo spread his hands. The sunlight caught the luxury watch on his wrist, making it gleam. “Of course. You think archaeology can keep up with my spending habits? It’s not like I’m going to dig up a five-hundred-year-old Chanel bag from a tomb.”

The image was so vivid that Chen Ting nearly sprayed his coffee across the table.

Gao Duo chuckled. Just seeing Chen Ting lifted his mood. It was not about romance at all. Some people were just easy to like, and Chen Ting happened to be one of them.

“Alright, I won’t be a third wheel. You two chat. Let’s stay in touch.” Gao Duo’s mind might have been full of mischief, but he walked away with flair. Judging by the direction he headed, it looked like he was off to mess with Yang Shulin next.

Chen Ting silently offered up a prayer for Yang Shulin. Just as he zoned out, his coffee cup was snatched away by Pei Yiyao.

Pei Yiyao placed the cup as far from Chen Ting as possible, then called the server over to order another one exactly the same. After that, he pinched Chen Ting’s cheek and said, “I’m still jealous.”

Chen Ting stared at him. Jealous, my ass.