Chapter 16: Lips Opening and Closing

[This is the personal bonus for the first place in rock climbing, all three thousand handed over to baby^^]

No matter who you have a grudge against, you can’t have a grudge against money.

But the money from that twisted pervert felt a bit hot to the touch. After accepting it, Song Chunhui had to mentally prepare himself.

Whether he accepted it or not, that brat had already latched onto him, so he might as well take it. Besides, the physical and mental damage he suffered was far from being soothed by just a few thousand bucks.

As soon as the bus arrived at the branch office, Song Chunhui drove off in a hurry, seeking some temporary peace.

On the way back, he was torn about whether to go to the hospital for a check-up. But in Ancheng, from large tertiary hospitals to small clinics, they were all basically target clients of the company. He couldn’t afford to lose face like that.

The circles in every industry are actually not that big; it’s a tight-knit little world. Once you’re in, all sorts of complex relationships and gossip intertwine unintentionally.

In such an industry environment, Song Chunhui was well aware of his situation. He hadn’t yet earned enough startup capital, but his goal remained unchanged: to switch to another pharmaceutical company and continue working.

Back at his place, Song Chunhui went online to carefully research HIV prevention medication. He couldn’t help but think of the morning’s torment and the horrifying scenes in the video. Luckily, he wasn’t stabbed to the point of bleeding, so his body should be safe.

But then he thought, wasn’t it still considered high-risk behavior since that pervert didn’t use protection? How dangerous! Who knows if his fluids were full of infectious viruses.

Worse than an animal!

Feeling uneasy, Song Chunhui decided to buy online, only to find that a course of prevention medication cost nearly three thousand, with even more expensive options, and the cheapest still in the high hundreds.

He was so angry that his head started to hurt again, wondering what sins he committed in his past life to suffer endlessly in this one.

He could only comfort himself with “spending money to avoid disaster,” trying to make himself feel a bit better. Once this disaster was over, life would surely get better.

His WeChat chimed.

Seeing it was his blind date, Song Chunhui’s expression finally softened, and he replied earnestly: [I’m home, thanks for your concern (cute) Have you had dinner?]

Meng Sijun: [I have, what about you?]

There were leftover noodles in the fridge, but Song Chunhui was too tired, lazily curled up on the small broken sofa in the living room, not wanting to move. So he lied, saying he had eaten, and steered the conversation towards the other person’s feelings. Unexpectedly, a pleasant surprise came.

Meng Sijun: [I’ve never been in a relationship before. I was busy with studies, now busy with work, and unknowingly left behind. I’m so afraid no one will want me (grievance)]

Never been in a relationship means…

Song Chunhui was genuinely surprised. He hadn’t felt much before, but now it was like being tied with a red string by the matchmaker, instantly falling head over heels, eager to get out of singlehood, wanting to hug a soft body and sleep together. The bed where a woman lay smelled so nice, and he wouldn’t have to rely on a nightlight anymore.

Then, a text message popped up on the screen, freezing the smile on Song Chunhui’s face.

[Baby, I forgot to tell you, I’m very healthy. I didn’t use protection because the hotel-provided ones didn’t fit, and I wanted to be close to you.]

“…” All those perverts should be shot!

Song Chunhui was so disgusted that he got goosebumps, wishing he could move out overnight and report Li Huan before leaving Ancheng.

But the problem returned to the root: he couldn’t afford to lose face like that, couldn’t bear the external pointing fingers, and didn’t want to become a laughingstock in others’ idle chatter.

[I’m giving you this one chance to turn over a new leaf. If you disgust me again, I’ll report you and let your mom see what kind of person you are. The one losing face is you, so take care of yourself!]

When the reply came, Li Huan was leisurely lying down, admiring the photos in his private album.

The man’s handsome face was flushed, lips slightly parted, tongue barely peeking out from the corner of his mouth, body completely open to him, pink all over, tender as if spring water could be squeezed out, a stark contrast to the mature demeanor during the day.

The equally mature text message instantly extinguished the small budding flame in Li Huan’s heart, and the mischievous itch crept up again, crawling down his skin.

He stared at the dilapidated ceiling, thinking it was time to find a new environment for himself. Where he lived didn’t matter; the main thing was that it was getting colder, and he needed to find a warm home for his little brother.

At the same time, Song Chunhui excitedly and boldly replied to his blind date: [If no one wants you, I do (covering face)]

Afraid of scaring her, he quickly added in a lively tone: [Hehe, just kidding. Actually, no one wants me either. Isn’t that a coincidence? We’re so fated (pitiful)]

For a long time, there was no new message from the other side.

Reminded by Xia Wei, Song Chunhui didn’t dare to joke around recklessly now, afraid of saying something wrong and making the girl dislike him, thinking he went too far with the joke. Little did he know, over in Jiangcheng, the junior was holding his phone, going crazy with infatuation.

Senior is so cute!

I really want to kiss senior to death!

Meng Chunxun always remembered the year he started college, when he met the passionate senior.

It was Song Chunhui who took his heavy luggage, accompanied him through the campus, caring for him along the way, asking if he was tired from the train ride, if he missed home, running around to buy him various daily necessities and phone cards, even carefully making his bed, giving him the warmth of home.

He couldn’t bear to hurt Song Chunhui, yet the deeply buried feelings were like a flood breaking through a dam.

Meng Sijun: [Then how about we pair up?]

Just like that, they paired up?

Song Chunhui was shocked, happiness struck like lightning, instantly making him feel a bit anxious.

His life had experienced ups and downs in the past two days, always feeling something was off, suspecting the heavens were playing tricks on him, not letting his dreams come true.

He quickly sent a message to his junior, inquiring about the blind date’s appearance and personality. At 27, having never been in a relationship, could she really be one of those unwanted types?

Chunxun: [Looks okay, personality is okay too, maybe just a bit shy. You should just go with it, if it doesn’t work out, you can break up, don’t overthink it.]

With his junior’s words, Song Chunhui felt at ease. Just like that, he muddled into an online relationship, calling her “Junjun,” chatting about everything under the sun. They exchanged words back and forth until nearly ten o’clock before ending.

His heart fluttered with spring, looking forward to the future, finding a hint of home in the once dead-silent rental room, no longer feeling empty inside.

If it weren’t for the harassing text message, Song Chunhui would have had a good dream tonight. Unfortunately, the pervert was determined to make his life difficult, choosing to bother him when he was in a good mood.

[Baby, I can’t sleep]

The video hadn’t been deleted, and blocking didn’t work. Song Chunhui stared at the screen, his brows furrowing into a tight knot, wanting to curse but fearing Li Huan would get a kick out of it.

He helplessly deleted the text, muttering under his breath, “Can’t sleep? Hurry up and die, you lightning-struck thing.”

“Ding-dong—” Another text came in.

[If you ignore me, I’ll be sad]

Luckily, he didn’t curse back. Song Chunhui chose to ignore it, plugged in his phone to charge, and when he went to the bathroom to wash up, he saw the dirty suit and trousers still in the basin.

The suits he wore to work were all cheap, off-brand stuff bought online. When they got dirty, he hand-washed them, air-dried them naturally, and then ironed them flat.

Ancheng had cooled down in the past two days, and winter suits didn’t dry easily, so he couldn’t delay.

Sitting was uncomfortable, standing was barely tolerable, but he managed to hand-wash the suit and trousers, hanging them on the balcony to dry.

The room was still chilly. He suddenly felt very cold, yet he forced himself to take a hot shower, hoping to wash away the fatigue and get a good night’s sleep. Director Wang hadn’t replied to his invitation yesterday, so he needed to follow up tomorrow.

After all the fuss and worry, Song Chunhui was exhausted.

*

In the second week of his internship, Li Huan surprisingly got up early, arriving at the business department at 7:50.

The first thing he did was go to the manager’s office, take out the tea bags from the drawer, and grab the black thermos on the desk, heading to the adjacent tea room to make tea for Song Chunhui.

By 8:00, Song Chunhui hadn’t shown up.

The diligent four-eyes was actually late? Li Huan found it odd. Without Song Chunhui nagging in his ear, it was a bit too quiet.

He sat at his workstation, suspecting that Song Chunhui had also blocked his phone number, so he simply called. It went through, but no one answered.

Just before the call was about to disconnect automatically, a weak voice came through the receiver. Li Huan sensed something was wrong and immediately asked, “Song Ge, are you sick?”

The next second, the call was hung up.

It was that brat calling. Song Chunhui, muddled by fever, hadn’t noticed the caller ID. Remembering he hadn’t taken leave, he quickly dialed General Manager Liu’s number.

Successfully getting a day off, Song Chunhui couldn’t muster the energy to please Director Wang, wrapping himself tightly in his blanket and drifting back to sleep until the “knock knock knock” on the door woke him.

“Song Ge, open the door!”

“Song Ge!”

Clearly hearing Li Huan’s voice, Song Chunhui regretted giving out his address during that social event. A grown man like him, being assaulted by a fresh-out-of-school brat, made a fool of.

It would be a joke if word got out.

Outside, knowing that Song Chunhui wouldn’t open the door, Li Huan tied the plastic bag with medicine to the doorknob and then took out his phone to edit a text message.

When Song Chunhui woke up again, drenched in sweat, the sun was high in the sky.

He reached for his phone on the bedside table. It was already 2 PM, with WeChat messages, text messages, and two missed calls from Li Huan on the screen.

Worse than an animal, he still had the nerve to text and call him.

When he saw the content of the text message, Song Chunhui was furious.

[Song Ge, I hung the medicine on your door. I don’t know your symptoms, so I bought fever medicine and cold medicine. There’s also an ointment for your backside. It’s my fault for going too deep yesterday morning and not cleaning you up properly. I wanted to help you wash, but you wouldn’t let me in. Get well soon, or I’ll feel guilty ToT]

The sudden fever tormented Song Chunhui for two days, and he only regained his energy by Wednesday.

He ended up using that ointment, cursing Li Huan while applying it. The only thing to be happy about was that his online girlfriend “Junjun” was heartbroken when she found out he was sick, even taking the initiative to say sweet words to him.

As the saying goes, good things make people feel refreshed.

Receiving a kiss emoji from his girlfriend before work, Song Chunhui was rejuvenated, making a special trip to the community hospital to visit Director Wang, using soft persuasion to successfully arrange a meeting at the “Red Romance” bathhouse.

Everything was moving in a positive direction.

Song Chunhui was quite pleased, humming a tune while driving. But when he returned to the company at noon, the security guard opened the gate for him, cheerfully greeting him.

“Yo, Manager Song! Your hemorrhoids are better, huh?”

“…” Song Chunhui nearly crashed the car.

Security Guard: “My hemorrhoids have been acting up too these past two days. I haven’t dared to go to the hospital. How’s your situation? Serious? Did you have surgery?”

Song Chunhui’s dignified image didn’t allow him to use the excuse of “having hemorrhoids,” which would damage his reputation. He didn’t need to think to know who was spreading rumors, those few troublemakers in the business department.

Forget it, leave it to that brat, let them fight among themselves.

The business department was empty, and Song Chunhui inexplicably felt relieved. He had just sat down, not even warming the chair, when the office door suddenly opened and then closed tightly.

“Long time no see, Manager.”

“…” Seeing Li Huan’s tall and intimidating figure, Song Chunhui’s heart tightened.

He figured this pervert wouldn’t dare do anything in the company, so he stood up, slapped the table, and sternly said, “Who let you in? Get out!”

“Why did you block my number?” Li Huan glanced at Song Chunhui’s slicked-back hair, really wanting to mess it up.

“I told you to get out, are you deaf?” Song Chunhui wanted to open the door, but Li Huan was blocking it entirely. He didn’t dare to approach recklessly, always maintaining a safe distance.

Li Huan asked, “Did you use the medicine I bought for you?”

“…” Song Chunhui frowned. The hard approach wasn’t working, so he tried a softer one, instructing Li Huan, “I went to see Director Wang this morning. The next step is up to you. Go book a room at the ‘Red Romance’ on North Street.”

Watching Song Chunhui’s lips open and close, Li Huan didn’t hear a word.

Despite not wanting to see Li Huan, Song Chunhui had to complete this handover, planning to briefly explain the situation at “Red Romance” and first persuade Li Huan to delete a video.

However, before he could finish speaking, Li Huan suddenly lunged forward without warning, instantly breaking the safe distance.

Not good!

Song Chunhui’s heart skipped a beat, feeling like he was facing a formidable enemy. Instinctively wanting to dodge, but it was too late. Li Huan’s oppressive body pressed tightly against him, his back hitting the wall with a “thud,” and his glasses were instantly snatched away. Then, with a “clang,” the glasses were thrown somewhere, and in a daze, a pair of strong hands cupped his head, followed by something wet and warm forcefully invading his mouth.

“Mm—”