Chapter 45: Paid Schooling

A simple question mark was the response.

Before Lu Ran could receive an answer, sleepiness overtook him, and he drifted off with his phone still in hand.

He thought he might be uneasy.

After all, there had been far too many events that day.

But surprisingly, Lu Ran slept soundly through the night.

It had been a long time since he'd felt so at ease.

So much so that he almost overslept the next morning.

As usual, he bought breakfast and took Big Yellow to Ji's company.

Walking along the way, something came to mind, and he retrieved his phone to check their chat page.

Ji Min replied once more.

A brief line of text emerged, presenting a choice: Big Yellow was more handsome.

Lu Ran gazed at his phone screen for a while, then suddenly everything became clear to him.

He crouched down and stared into Big Yellow's round, puzzled eyes for quite some time.

Confused by the prolonged gaze, Big Yellow assumed its owner was playing with it and leaped up to pounce on Lu Ran.

Lu Ran embraced the dog and planted a kiss on its head, saying, "My son still has the charm."

It seemed that his attraction to Lu Ran wasn't due to him being more handsome than Zhang Lin.

When Lu Ran arrived at Ji's company that day, Ji Min was not in his office.

After a while, Ji Min returned to his office while assigning tasks to his assistant.

Spotting Lu Ran, he didn't forget to inquire, "Have you made up your mind?"

With Big Yellow in his arms, Lu Ran nodded affirmatively, "I'll do it!"

Why overthink? One would be a fool to pass on such an opportunity for money!

However, he was momentarily perplexed and asked, "What do I need to do?"

Ji Min was concise, "Take good care of your dog."

"Aah?"

That's it?

Suddenly, Lu Ran felt the money in his hands becoming too hot to hold.

Ji Min paused, seemingly also perceiving that the job description was rather simplistic.

After a moment of thought, he added, "Stay by my side and be ready to handle any inconvenient tasks that may arise."

Lu Ran understood the unspoken message.

Nevertheless, he still went to the coffee shop where he worked as usual that day.

After informing the boss about his resignation and receiving consent, he left the premises.

The following day was his first official day off, coincidentally falling on a weekend.

However, Ji Min, who didn't enjoy weekends off, came to the company as routine demanded.

On his first day on the job, Lu Ran was full of eager anticipation, ready to dive in.

Rising early, he directly waited at the Ji Corporation's parking lot.

Ji Min's car had barely come to a halt when, from a considerable distance, he espied the youth standing by the elevator.

The youth's eyes lit up at the very instant he caught sight of the car, and without hesitation, he led the dog over, bounding eagerly in its direction.

In the passenger seat, Butler Chen caught sight of this and raised an eyebrow in surprise. He shot a teasing glance at Ji Min sitting behind him.

Ji Min raised a hand to gently touch his forehead, letting out a slight sigh.

He rarely indulged in impulsive actions.

Hiring Lu Ran as his assistant ranked first on that list.

Yet, the reason behind it was inexplicable.

He couldn't possibly confess that he had been irrationally bothered by seeing the young man working outside, ending up in a state of disarray, which led him to find an excuse to keep him around.

Saying that would likely make Uncle Chen laugh at him for a year.

With his gaze fixed on the scene outside the car, he beheld the youth approaching in rapid, bounding steps, their gait comparably joyous to that of the little dog frolicking at their side.

Ji Min opens the car door.

The moment he descended the ramp, he saw Lu Ran turn the corner and head straight for the passenger seat.

Almost pressed against the glass, he greeted with exhilaration, "Uncle!"

Ji Min: "..."

With his demeanor, one might mistake it for Chen Butler who was paying him his wages.

Chen Butler stepped out of the car and greeted Lu Ran with a smile, "Good morning."

"Good morning." Lu Ran continued circling around Chen Butler.

It wasn't until the person from the backseat began to exude an icy aura that things changed.

Butler Chen barely contained his amusement, giving Lu Ran a subtle nod.

Only then did Lu Ran recall his duties, leading Big Yellow towards Ji Min.

He greeted, "Good morning, Boss."

Ji Min replied with a soft laugh, "Huh."

So you still remember who your boss is.

Upon seeing Ji Min's wheelchair touch the ground, Lu Ran instinctively moved around to grasp the handlebars.

Ji Min was taken aback and failed to react promptly.

Mr. Chen, standing by the side, was about to remind them when he witnessed Lu Ran pushing Ji Min straight towards the elevator.

Ever since the car accident left him wheelchair-bound, Ji Min had always been resistant to others touching his wheelchair.

It was as if he were desperately holding onto some absurd line of dignity or trying to prove that he was not an incapacitated person unable to take care of himself.

Therefore, he preferred to take control himself.

Only now did Ji Min personally experience the thrill of lightning-speed events.

The youth behind him was pushing with considerable speed.

The gust of wind in the face dispersed the strands of Ji Min's bangs, with a few loose locks escaping the grasp of the hair gel, gently cascading across his eyebrows and fluttering softly.

Ji Min usually moves with an extraordinary composure.

For the first time, seated in this wheelchair, he experienced the thrill of speeding on a motorcycle from his youth.

He was startled.

The words of protest momentarily froze on the tip of his tongue.

The very next moment, the exuberant youth behind him seemed to suddenly recollect something.

He gasped, abruptly releasing his grip.

Thus, under the astonished gazes of Butler Chen, Ji Min's driver, assistant, and all the J Corporation employees working overtime in the parking lot that weekend...

Their perpetually gloomy, world-weary boss, whose wheelchair seemed to bear the weight of his despair...

Slid forward several meters in his wheelchair due to momentum.

When he hit the brakes to stop, his entire body jolted with a clunk.

In this somewhat comical scene.

In the presence of everyone, silence reigned as still as a hen.

Until the man in the wheelchair gritted his teeth and spat out a name, "Lu! Ran!"

"Ah, my apologies." Lu Ran hurriedly explained. "I suddenly remembered that you might not like others touching your wheelchair, right?"

Ji Min: "......."

Isn't it a bit too late to ask this now?

Observing the solemn expression on Ji Min's face, which seemed to hold a drop of water ready to fall, Lu Ran thought to himself that it was over.

It seemed he might be getting fired on his very first day.

Ji Min forcefully maintained a stern look.

The reason it was labeled as 'forced' was because even he found the situation rather amusing deep down.

A tight wire of rationality pulled at him, telling him that he should be angry.

His mood was like that of a child engrossed in play, unable to muster any anger.

Ji Min could only maintain a cold expression and tersely remind, "Keep your dog on a leash."

"Oh," Lu Ran sighed in relief. It seemed he wasn't being fired.

He bent down to pick up Big Yellow and slowly walked over to Ji Min, asking, "Should I push you now, or do you want to do it yourself?"

Ji Min paused for a moment before pressing the remote control himself.

The wheelchair moved forward as usual, at a pace as slow as still water.

Lu Ran lagged behind and whispered to Manager Chen, "Is he angry?"

Manager Chen looked at Ji Min, somewhat surprised.

He shook his head and said, "Hard to tell."

Surprisingly, he didn't seem to be angry.

Back in the office, Ji Min quickly immersed himself in work.

Lu Ran didn't disturb him.

Not knowing what he should do, Lu Ran curled up in a corner of the sofa, much like Big Yellow would.

But he wasn't as carefree as Big Yellow.

After a while, he began to feel somewhat guilty about the salary he was earning without doing anything productive.

During a pause in Ji Min's work, Lu Ran couldn't resist asking, "Should I do something?"

The teenager's puzzled tone caught Ji Min off guard.

His movements paused, and he rubbed the fleshy part of his thumb against his knuckles, silent for a long moment.

Because Ji Min himself wasn't sure what he wanted Lu Ran to do.

The boy was only in his first year of college and was not capable of handling highly specialized tasks.

On the other hand, he wasn't needed for trivial matters either.

Previously, Ji Min had taken the initiative to visit the coffee shop and offered to help Lu Ran find a job.

It would have been a simple favor for him to do.

In the circles he was familiar with, there were plenty of jobs suitable for Lu Ran.

With his recommendation, Lu Ran wouldn't face any unnecessary difficulties at work.

However, this option flickered briefly in Ji Min's mind before being pushed aside.

Continuing his task, Ji Min asked, "Have you passed the College English Test Band 4?"

"I just took it. The results aren't out yet," Lu Ran replied.

He didn't understand why Ji Min was asking this, but after some thought, he added, "I should pass."

"Well, then proceed with studying for the sixth-level English vocabulary and exam questions."

The man's single sentence settled his work arrangements.

Lu Ran: "..."

He fell silent for two seconds, then retrieved a vocabulary book and a test paper from his bag.

I originally brought this to read during my work breaks.

Now I see, oh my, gaps are everywhere.

Lu Ran leaned on the armrest of the sofa, silently beginning to work on his exercises.

The office fell silent for a moment.

Occasionally, someone would enter and cast a glance at the youth reclining on the sofa, only to be left utterly stunned.

He concealed his profound shock within and quietly made his exit.

Lu Ran delved into the practice questions, gradually immersing himself in the task.

As lunchtime approached, Ji Min set aside his work and leaned back in his chair.

The morning had been overcast with gloomy skies. But now, the sun had broken through, casting a golden glow into the room through the window at a slant, illuminating a corner of the sofa on this winter day.

On a sleek black leather sofa.

The youth nestled atop, his posture transforming from initial restraint to a gradually more relaxed prostration.

He was bent over, looking up words, and the sunlight enveloped his fine black hair with a hazy golden glow.

Ji Min watched this scene with narrowed eyes, a faint sense of pleasure stirring within him.

Just like the other day, when he caught sight of the little dog on the sofa during a break from his work.

This pleasure was shallow, elusive, and its source indistinct.

It was as if a splash of vibrant color had suddenly disrupted the stillness of his life.

No action was necessary for this hue to create ripples in his existence.

Yet, there seemed to be something amiss.

Ji Min gazed for a while before lifting his hand to grab his phone, sending a message to his assistant.

Lu Ran found studying intensely very satisfying.

He hadn't been so engrossed in learning for a long time.

After turning sixteen, he began seeking part-time jobs.

While others discussed their after-school plans, he pondered how to optimize his time to earn more money.

Amidst his part-time job, he made every effort to learn something new.

His heart seemed suspended in mid-air, tugged between two extremes.

This time, as Lu Ran lifted his head, lured by the aroma of the food, he experienced a sudden realization, as if awakening from a dream.

Butler Chen was smiling warmly at him, saying, "Don't forget to eat while studying, my boy."

Then, he placed the meal and utensils on the coffee table in front of Lu Ran.

"I can manage myself," Lu Ran hurriedly replied.

He had never been cared for like this before, and his cheeks flushed slightly.

Butler Chen retreated with a smile.

Lu Ran took a couple of bites before remembering that he was currently working. He quickly looked up at Ji Min.

The man sat behind his desk, dining with impeccable manners.

Every move he made exuded refinement and good upbringing.

Lu Ran observed for a while, feeling that this was likely what Madam Shen had always sought after.

After finishing lunch, Lu Ran tidied up his plate.

He was about to retrieve Ji Min's plate as well.

Butler Chen approached and said, "Allow me to do it."

With gentle yet firm politeness, he took the plate from Lu Ran's hands.

Lu Ran slowly settled back into the sofa.

The confusion that he had suppressed while studying resurfaced.

It wasn't until after lunch that...

The office door swung open, and two workers in uniforms wheeled in a set of desk and chair.

The furniture was simple, resembling a single student desk found in schools.

After the desk was properly arranged, Ji Min nodded in that direction and said, "Don't lie on the sofa, it's bad for your eyes. Sit over there."

Lu Ran: "..."

He quietly slid over, still holding his book.

Inwardly, he was cursing profusely.

What the hell was this?

Getting paid to attend school?