Chapter 45: Tong Yingying Wants to Retain

Chapter 45: Tong Yingying Wants to Retain

“It feels like Little Huan might quit soon.”

Saturday night, South District, Tong Yao Tavern.

Tian Li had changed into his bartender outfit and was moving tables and chairs when he suddenly mentioned this to his girlfriend, Guan Rong, who was also working there.

“Eh, why do you say that?”

“The house I rented is pretty close to Little Huan’s place. Remember the night I took a break to grab the group report?”

“Uh-huh, and then?”

“Well, on my way back, I saw Little Huan showing his elder and older sister around his house. He called that elder Aunt, and she seemed quite wealthy.”

Guan Rong then recalled something and said, “Oh right, Little Huan didn’t come to work yesterday. But how do you know that Aunt is rich?”

“The car! You know I’m into cars. The one that dropped them off was a Dragon Flag Series Zhu Long III, starry black, standard model costing over a million.”

Guan Rong wasn’t very knowledgeable about cars, only recognizing a few famous brands.

But hearing the price made her cover her mouth in shock. “Ah, but wasn’t Little Huan raised in the South District? I’ve never heard him mention any wealthy relatives.”

“Who knows? Maybe he found them back home (Dragon Kingdom)?”

“Eh, that’s nice, but we can’t be sure. Little Huan is definitely going to quit or something.”

“If I were rich, I wouldn’t work either! What’s the point of working unless it’s to make money? Am I working to experience life or what?”

Tian Li set the chairs and tables in order while sighing, “And isn’t Little Huan busy enough? He’s the Student Council President with good grades. He has to juggle Student Council duties, study, and work just to make ends meet. It’s tiring; why would he want to keep working?”

“True, true.”

Just a bit of lamenting, and Tian Li and Guan Rong went back to work, moving tables and chairs, dusting off surfaces.

As Guan Rong was about to head inside to wash the cloths, she turned around and saw Tong Yingying leaning against the door, lighting a cigarette.

“Yingying? When did you get here?!”

“Now.”

“Oh, I’m going to wash the cloth now.”

“Mm.”

Tong Yingying cast a glance at Guan Rong, her expression thoughtful but her eyes still listless.

Her long legs, wrapped in blue jeans, occasionally swayed, revealing her mood.

Tian Li finished setting the tables and returned to the bar, but Tong Yingying didn’t go back inside; instead, she settled onto a chair outside.

Taking out her phone, she sneaked a peek at the time—it was around when Yan Huan typically worked.

She opened Plane and checked the chat with Yan Huan.

The chat remained frozen on the “speechless” meme he sent earlier.

Would the next message be a resignation notice?

“Yingying, I quit! Bye~”

Something like that, probably.

Well, it might be good if that guy leaves.

Then, no one would monitor when she smoked or drank, when she got up or went to bed.

Living freely, what’s wrong with that?

Tong Yingying grabbed an ashtray to stub out her cigarette but quickly lit another.

Yet, the burning smoke seemed to ignite her inner restlessness, making it impossible to calm down.

“Tsk.”

Tong Yingying bit her lip, looking out at the increasingly bustling street.

Groups of people walked past, and it irked her.

“Ding dong~”

At that moment, her phone on the table suddenly rang.

And it was a special tone, not your average notification sound.

It was a Plane message!

Tong Yingying froze for a moment, hesitant to flip her phone over and check.

Must be Yan Huan, right?

He still hadn’t shown up by this time.

Could it be another request for leave?

But didn’t that guy skip work yesterday and not ask for a leave on Plane? Yet he privately brought a wealthy aunt home for a visit.

Yesterday, Tong Yingying felt it might be because she had been a bit harsh in their last conversation that made him upset.

She was only checking on him out of concern, yet her words weren’t kind.

With no positive feedback over time, anyone would feel cold, right?

In reality, Tong Yingying didn’t even realize she had been gentle enough with Yan Huan.

Her character made it difficult for her to express directly; she could only convey it through subtle hints.

So, was it possible that this message was not about asking for leave at all?

But rather—

“It feels like Little Huan might quit soon.”

Tian Li’s words echoed in her mind like thunder, making Tong Yingying’s grip on her phone tense up.

“Yingying, I quit! Bye~”

Wasn’t it likely that she would just flip it over and see that?

Then send a message back inquiring.

Like a clown asking “Why?”

What she’d receive would probably just be a red exclamation mark:

“Yan Huan has enabled friend verification, and you are not his (or her) friend. Please send a friend verification request first.”

!!

Tong Yingying’s mouth opened, and the burning cigarette slipped from her fingers to the table.

Her eyes, a bit more alive than before, lowered to the burning cigarette on the table.

She felt like that burning cigarette was not just tobacco, but it was herself.

After a moment of silence, she picked up the cigarette and buried it in the ashtray, extinguishing it completely.

Forget it!

Rain might be coming, and my mother might remarry.

It’s just a Plane message; after all these years of living my life, I won’t be flustered by a high school student leaving, right?

Even if he is indeed good-looking, gentle, treats her well, lively, and even made her healthier, younger, and a lot more vibrant…

But he’s just a high school student! I don’t care at all!

Thinking this, Tong Yingying’s body instinctively leaned back into the chair, distancing her head as much as possible from her phone on the table.

Then, carefully, she lifted her phone just a bit, revealing a glimpse of the screen to sneak a look.

Like a gambler checking their cards in a game of Doubles, confirming her hand,

What type of message did Yan Huan send?

At this moment, the stakes were about equal!

Let’s gamble!!

Tong Yingying gritted her teeth and slammed the lock screen button, unlocking her phone screen!!

Then, her gaze fell on the screen.

Li Xiumei (Mom): “You used to talk about finding a partner; when are you going to give us some confirmation?! Are you trying to drive your dad and me crazy?!”

Tong Yingying blinked slightly, taken aback by the message from her mother.

Then her expression darkened instantly, the veins rising on her forehead.

She picked her phone, opened her mom’s chat, and instead of typing, pressed the voice button.

Taking a deep breath, what was about to come out was the concentrated essence of her homeland’s language!!

“What the heck?”

“Yingying?”

The teeth-gritting Tong Yingying was about to turn into a Super Saiyan, only to be interrupted by a sudden male voice.

Her spell was abruptly interrupted, and her eyes fluttered as she looked up.

Before her stood the handsome young man holding a bottle of probiotic drink, watching her.

It was Yan Huan, come to work.

“You’re arguing with your mom again?”

“Ah, no, I…”

Tong Yingying hesitated, her hand unconsciously relaxing, forgetting she was still pressing the voice button.

Suddenly, a ten-second long voice message was sent.

But at that moment, her attention was already captivated by Yan Huan, completely ignoring the Plane matters.

She set her phone aside and scratched the back of her head in irritation, her eyes flitting to and fro over the ashtray.

As Yan Huan stated, her claims about quitting smoking and drinking were nothing but hot air.

“Had some issues at home yesterday, forgot to ask for leave, Yingying.”

Tong Yingying opened her mouth, as if wanting to say something or ask something, but nothing came out.

“Uh, it’s fine, go change your clothes.”

So she replied that way.

Not mentioning deductions?

Yan Huan raised an eyebrow in surprise.

But since the boss didn’t mention it, he wouldn’t either; it’s a free ride and no one should pass it up.

He nodded and prepared to go inside to change.

Meanwhile, behind him, Tong Yingying’s lethargic gaze continued to follow Yan Huan.

She felt somewhat puzzled.

If what Tian Li said was true, and Yan Huan did indeed have such a rich aunt, would he still come to work?

This state didn’t look like someone receiving financial support…

Could it be that Tian Li misunderstood?!

Thinking this, Tong Yingying’s cloudy eyes brightened slightly.

Can’t help it.

The boy who needs to work hard was destined to be helped by someone as generous as me, a beautiful boss!

“Hey, Little Huan, you still came to work, huh?”

“Why do you say that, Big Li?”

In the tavern, Guan Rong chuckled, “Yesterday, Ah Li saw your aunt come to visit you, saying the car she drives is quite expensive.”

“Right? The Zhu Long III! Though I’m into internal combustion engines and not really into electric cars, I’ve seen some reviews, and that car is really impressive. I wasn’t mistaken, right?”

Tian Li must have misheard.

Tong Yingying followed Yan Huan into the tavern, her listless eyes revealing such a determined meaning.

However, Yan Huan, hearing this, smiled slightly and replied to Tian Li,

“Ah, you were there yesterday? I didn’t see you. You didn’t greet me.”

“Eh?”

Tong Yingying blinked.

“Oh, I just passed by, was quite a distance away. You guys got out and went upstairs right away, didn’t have a chance to say hello.”

Yan Huan didn’t say much more and prepared to go change.

Tian Li wanted to ask when he would quit working, but seeing Tong Yingying’s expressionless face walking in, he thought,

“…”

Survival instinct told him it was best not to do so at this moment.

Tian Li chuckled awkwardly, while Tong Yingying was already in front of him.

She waved her hand and said,

“Give me that unfinished bottle of Highland Queen.”

Highland Queen, whiskey.

“Alright, Yingying.”

Tian Li skillfully handed over a glass filled with ice to Tong Yingying.

With these, Tong Yingying returned to her familiar corner near the back door.

“Glug glug~”

The poured liquor dyed the ice, and she didn’t pour too much; after all, tasting was different from getting drunk.

Taking a sip of whiskey, she propped her chin, gazing around the bar.

She watched Yan Huan change and then noticed more customers gradually filling the tavern.

If we really have to talk about it, Tian Li’s bartending skills were just passable, having learned it halfway.

Tong Yingying was quite good at mixing drinks, but generally, she wouldn’t do it herself.

The tavern’s business thrived mainly for two reasons:

First, the shop is roadside, with high foot traffic, of course leading to more customers compared to those in tucked-away spots.

Second, its decoration is quite stylish, making it a quality tavern that starkly contrasts with South District’s vibe.

If one wants to enjoy a quiet drink, this is the best choice in the South District.

The first point was thanks to Tong Yingying, since she bought the place.

As for the second, with her reputation as “the Best Idea After Drinking” known, it mainly belonged to Yan Huan.

When she first decided to open the tavern, Tong Yingying planned to run it in its raw form.

However, after being advised by Yan Huan upon his hiring, she spent a little more on renovations.

That’s right, Yan Huan was the very first employee Tong Yingying hired, whereas Tian Li and Guan Rong came in later.

They could say that the current “Tong Yao” was gradually created through Tong Yingying and Yan Huan’s discussions.

Their relationship was casual, and Tong Yingying paid him rather well.

He worked 28 hours a week, while most others were paid hourly; Tong Yingying based his salary on a monthly wage standard.

Two hundred a day, if he worked a full 28 hours a week, she’d give him fourteen hundred, plus holiday bonuses, never lacking.

Just as Yan Huan kept emphasizing, Tong Yingying was indeed generous to him.

“But no matter how generous she could be, this kid must be quite tired, right?”

Sipping whiskey, Tong Yingying observed Yan Huan’s silhouette working and thought to herself.

Well, even though this guy was appealing while working and made her healthier, perhaps it was a bit selfish to have him keep toiling away.

Tong Yingying poured another glass of alcohol, exhaling deeply.

She had some savings and could perhaps emulate her aunt, giving him money directly without requiring him to work.

But what about the label?

That person was Yan Huan’s relative; who were you to him?

Moreover, that seems like keeping a mistress, doesn’t it?

Although Tong Yingying thought it wasn’t so bad, it could be sheer humiliation for Yan Huan.

Taking lots of money and robbing him of the right to work hard—how cruel.

“Ding dong~”

At that moment, her phone on the table buzzed again.

It was a message from Plane.

Picking it up, it was another message from her mother,

“Hey, quietly doing something big? Who’s that guy talking to you? His voice is pretty nice, sounds like a young lad. When’s the romance happening?”

Tong Yingying rolled her eyes and typed back one-handed,

“Ugh, stop spreading rumors, I’m not dating.”

“You’re playing games with me? How do you usually talk to us, and how do you talk to him? You’re two-faced, huh?”

“It’s just that you all are too annoying!”

“Yeah, we’re annoying. Living roast pork is better than raising you!”

Ugh…

Tong Yingying stopped replying, merely pouring more liquor.

However, her mom sent another message,

“You’ve been independent since you were little, going to Linyi Gate to study alone, without much money at home, we can’t do much to help you.

“We’re not trying to force you to marry; we just worry about you since you look unhealthy every time we video chat. We care about you.

“Are you making soup? Are you eating well?

“Tickets to Linyi Gate are too expensive, so we hardly get to see you; we just want someone to look after you.

“If that boy is suitable, take care of him. Don’t use your bad temper on him; be a little sincere, okay?”

Tong Yingying stopped replying, for the reasons were similar to many excuses for silent treatment.

“I don’t know what to say.”

But at that moment, she genuinely didn’t know what to tell her mother.

If her parents found out she was mingling with the underworld in Linyi Gate, they probably wouldn’t sleep for three days straight.

“Okay.”

After such a simple reply, Tong Yingying downed a drink and raised the nearby bottle, preparing to pour more.

But a hand gently stopped her.

“.”

She didn’t even need to look up to know that very few could stop her this way.

“Yingying, though I’ve known for a while that your claims about quitting smoking and drinking are nonsense, but doesn’t it seem to be getting worse?”

Tong Yingying propped her chin, turning to Yan Huan beside her.

“Uh-huh?”

“Yingying, like I said before, drinking more due to pressure from your parents pushing for marriage only tightens their urge to push you into it.”

Tong Yingying looked at Yan Huan before lapsing into silence for a moment, but she didn’t respond to this statement.

Instead, she pointed across and whispered, “Sit, I want to talk.”

Yan Huan blinked, looking towards that side. “But the tavern is still busy.”

“It’s fine; just sit.”

Yan Huan pondered for a moment but still settled down in front of Tong Yingying.

“So, what’s up?”

“Is what Tian Li said true?”

“It is.”

There’s really nothing to hide; no need to play dumb.

Tong Yingying poured herself another glass of alcohol without drinking it, just holding it in her palm, then asked Yan Huan,

“After living in the South District for so many years, why did your aunt suddenly come looking for you now?”

“The situation is somewhat complex, rather…”

“Watch out for someone trying to steal your kidney~”

Tong Yingying took a drink, her eyes focused forward, suddenly saying this.

That casual remark made Yan Huan break into a sweat.

“No, she’s very rich; why would she do that?”

“The richer they are, the more they do such things, right? They might target your valuable organs, throw you a few sweets, then try to set you up as a fine high school target to replace their deceased child’s organs.”

“.”

“Then when you wake up from anesthesia and realize a kidney is missing, all you can do is lay on the operating table, regretting your life and wishing you hadn’t gotten tricked. Be careful, Yan Huan~”

“What sort of movie plot is that?”

“Movies are based on reality; that’s common sense.”

“.”

Yan Huan stared silently at Tong Yingying, who wasn’t looking at him, merely drinking while offering rebuttals.

But somehow, it felt—

So he pretended to ponder and scratched his chin, mumbling,

“Yeah, if that’s the case, it does seem a bit concerning.”

“Right?”

“So tell me, Yingying, what should I do? I’m still young and inexperienced; I’ll listen to you.”

“Hey, I have an idea.”

At this point, Tong Yingying’s eyes finally sparkled, and she turned her head to look at Yan Huan, raising one finger.

Then what she saw was Yan Huan’s expression devoid of emotions, as if he had seen everything through.

“.”

“.”

The two exchanged glances, but Tong Yingying’s initially sunny expression froze instantly.

Crap, this kid saw right through her!

“Speak, Yingying, what’s your idea? I’m all ears.”

Yan Huan smiled, looking directly at her, inquiring.

Under such relentless questioning, a layer of cold sweat steadily appeared on Tong Yingying’s forehead.

Her gaze danced around nervously, trying desperately to gloss over,

“I… I forgot.”

“.”

Yan Huan sighed, looking at Tong Yingying with a smile, asking,

“Yingying, you wouldn’t possibly be reluctant to see me go, would you?”

“Not at all.”

Instantaneous response.

Though her listless eyes still didn’t meet Yan Huan’s gaze, she merely held the glass and faced the tavern entrance.

Uh, totally not true.

“No matter what, I’m not planning to quit anytime soon.”

“!”

Tong Yingying maintained her posture, but her eyes turned towards Yan Huan.

Taking a sip of her drink, she nonchalantly said, “Oh?”

“Ms. Ye will provide my living expenses later, but I’ve been here long enough. You’ve supported me through difficult times; I have an attachment to this place. Just up and leaving would seem too heartless. Plus, it’s just a few steps from home.”

“Oh.”

Same sound, just with a slight shift in tone.

Probably a “keep talking” kind of cue.

“But, Yingying, I might only be able to come in for a maximum of five days a week going forward. I won’t be as tired as before, but having some time free to do what I want would certainly be better. So, you should really hire another employee to share the workload.”

“Oh.”

That meant she’d heard.

Tong Yingying, biting the edge of her glass, finally turned her head little by little to face Yan Huan.

Emotional attachment?

It’s just a rundown tavern; what kind of feelings could there be?

If there was truly an attachment—

Wait a minute, is it possible he likes me?

Tong Yingying’s eyes widened slightly, appraising Yan Huan’s handsome features.

In an instant, her earlier conflict and her mother’s words on Plane all surged together.

This overwhelming sensation made her open her mouth to inquire,

“What do you mean when you said you have feelings for this place?”

The faint smell of alcohol exhaled from her breath danced around, forming a faint mist against the glass.

Through the glass, the handsome young man across appeared hazy.

That was probably how Tong Yingying viewed Yan Huan at that moment.

“Oh, I mean my feelings for Tong Yao Tavern. Otherwise, what else could it be?”

“.”

Tong Yingying, stunned, placed her cup down.

As the mist dissipated, her gaze met the bright smile of Yan Huan.

“Huh?”

“Look, Yingying, with your abilities, this tavern would have shut down long ago without me. If I were to leave, you’d likely see a sign saying ‘Shop For Sale’ at the entrance in just a few days.”

“.

“After all, I’ve been working here for more than a year, and since it’s close to home, I pass by every day picking up things; seeing it shut down would pain me even if it wouldn’t pain you.”

“.

Tong Yingying’s previously evasive eyes devolved into a half-dead expression, slowly transforming into a glare.

She sipped her drink and set it down, forcing a warm smile.

At the same time, her right hand subtly slipped into her coat pocket.

“Hm, and then? Anything else you want to say?”

Seeing this, Yan Huan silently stood up and addressed Tong Yingying,

“Also, I’ll be requesting leave tomorrow. I’m going to a gaming event in Linyi Gate with classmates and won’t be back in time for work tonight.”

“.

Tong Yingying had already pulled out an electric baton, whereas Yan Huan thus appeared nonchalant while observing the customers in the store.

“There are more customers in the tavern now; I need to hurry and help out, Yingying.”

Yan Huan turned to leave, yet Tong Yingying, remaining seated, continued to gaze at his retreating silhouette.

Her lips quivered slightly before she ultimately spoke.

“Wait a moment.”

Yan Huan didn’t turn back but rather asked helplessly,

“. What is it now, Yingying?”

“Later… the salary stays the same.”

Yan Huan was a bit surprised. He immediately turned back but only saw Tong Yingying, their heads lowered to pour more liquor.

The red bangs cascaded down, hiding her gaze, leaving only her alluring lips in his view.

“. Sure thing, Yingying.”

After a brief silence, Yan Huan smiled slightly in agreement.

The young man turned to work, leaving Tong Yingying still seated, her cheeks tinged with an unknown blush.

“.”

Maybe it was due to drinking a little?

Highland Queen, whiskey~