Chapter 37 - On Guard

Afternoon.

The winter sun shone with a brilliant white hue.

Its rays fell upon people, imparting a soothing warmth.

It was the lunch break for most.

Even within Ji Corporation, known for its cutthroat competition, the majority had begun their short siesta.

Only a few workaholics were still secretly toiling away.

Among them, Ji Min, the top contender, sat in his wheelchair, pausing in front of an unfamiliar coffee shop's glass door.

The decoration on the glass door was captivating.

Caramel hues exuded an alluring aroma in the winter air.

Yet, Ji Min had no habit of drinking coffee.

He gazed at the glass door for a moment.

Maneuvering his wheelchair, he ascended the ramp alongside the accessibility path.

The glass doors slid open automatically, parting to both sides.

The door chime by the entrance tinkled with a crisp note.

However, inside the shop, it was eerily empty, not a soul in sight.

Behind the counter, silence reigned.

Ji Min proceeded slowly toward the counter.

The sensor bell on the counter rang again, and a robotic female voice announced, "Welcome. Please place your order."

This voice echoed loudly amidst the tranquil, empty afternoon.

Immediately, a thud resonated from behind the counter.

Followed by a series of hurried and fumbling sounds.

Then, a slender hand with delicate fingers, marked with slight scars and calluses, emerged upward.

In its grasp was a pack of English Level 6 exam papers and a ballpoint pen sans its cap.

The seemingly fragile hand struggled to place the items properly before applying gentle pressure steadily.

Veins on the back of the hand slightly protruded as it pressed against the countertop.

A fluffy head used the counter for leverage as it popped out from underneath.

"Excuse me, oh welcome...,"

The voice still carried a deep sense of sleepiness, its slight nasal tone softening the listener's eardrums.

The cafe was warmly heated, exuding a comfortable ambiance.

Behind the counter, the young man slept with a faint flush upon his cheeks, a rosy indentation marking the right side where it had been gently pressed against some surface during his slumber.

"May I ask if you'd like to dine in or take out?"

A visible struggle ensued.

The youth, with great effort, finally managed to suppress the wave of drowsiness surging within him and struggled to his feet.

He hadn't had the chance to glance at the person approaching the counter.

Focusing intently, he tapped twice on his computer screen.

Yet, after a while, Lu Ran didn't hear any response from the counter.

He rubbed his glasses, wondering if he was hallucinating.

Just as he was leaning forward for a better look.

A cool, low voice suddenly rang out, "One Americano to go."

Lu Ran was taken aback.

He tilted his laptop screen again and caught sight of the man at the counter.

Ji Min sat steadily in his wheelchair.

An air of serenity emanated from him as he neither looked at the young man behind the counter nor the electronic menu.

Instead, he simply gazed idly to the side.

As if lost in thought or perhaps evading something.

Lu Ran was slightly surprised.

There were many Ji Corporation employees who frequented this cafe.

But it had never occurred to Lu Ran that he would encounter Ji Min here.

Ji Min was simply not the type of person one would expect to find in such an environment.

It was unimaginable that he would be in this casual coffee shop, standing in a long queue just to order an instant Americano.

He sat there,

naturally giving off the vibe that if he were to drink coffee, he would meticulously select his beans and have it freshly ground and brewed.

Even if he occasionally opted for a regular pour-over, it would be prepared by someone else and presented to him with both hands.

Thus, Lu Ran blinked several times,

dispelling the remaining drowsiness in his mind before realizing, "Oh..."

Having placed the order, Lu Ran turned to operate the coffee machine.

Little Wang was taking his afternoon nap in the back kitchen.

His snoring was quite loud.

Lu Ran lowered his head to secure the lid on the paper cup before placing it carefully into a leak-proof paper bag.

The young man was not dressed in thick clothing.

The cafe's crisp white shirt and waistcoat uniform outlined his slender back with striking clarity.

Ji Min withdrew his gaze.

"Here's your Americano," Lu Ran placed the packaged coffee on the countertop.

The counter was quite tall.

Only after placing it down did Lu Ran realize that the person opposite him was in a wheelchair, likely making it inconvenient for them.

Thus, he stretched his arm over the counter and passed the item to the man in the wheelchair.

Ji Min reached out to take it.

Their pale knuckles brushed against the healthy, milk-white skin of the young man, separating instantly.

A subtle chill lingered on his fingertips.

After receiving the paper bag, Ji Min didn't leave.

He continued to gaze aside, as if engaging in casual conversation, and asked, "How's the work here?"

"It's okay," Lu Ran yawned.

Ji Min seemed to be conducting a professional business assessment. "The location is good, but the customer base is rather narrow."

Lu Ran yawned again.

"Implicitly, the store doesn't earn much apart from peak hours," he couldn't help but remark.

The polite demeanor Lu Ran wore towards customers gradually faded from his face.

With one hand propping up his cheek, he looked at the man in the wheelchair and asked, "Mr. Ji... when are you leaving?"

Ji Min: "..."

Perfect.

No one had ever given him such an obvious hint to leave before.

Especially when he was a customer.

The man raised an eyebrow. "Does the owner mind your way of speaking?"

"Boss isn't here," Lu Ran yawned so wide that tears were about to roll down his cheeks. "What can I do for you? If it's nothing, I'll take a short nap."

A faint, aged chuckle escaped from beyond the shop door.

Lu Ran immediately perked up and stretched his neck to look outside.

Ji Min turned his head slightly and pressed his lips together.

In the end, he let out a soft sigh and said the words that had been lingering on his tongue since he entered the shop. "Are you interested in changing jobs?"

Lu Ran paused.

Then, he redirected his gaze, looking down at the running water displayed on his computer screen.

"I think I'll pass," Lu Ran looked up and smiled at him. "I'm doing just fine now."

Lu Ran didn't feel any obligation to agree.

He detected a hint of guilt in Ji Min's words.

Yet, he didn't mind nor did he have any curiosity to probe further.

Ji Min's knuckles resting on his knee flexed slightly.

He lifted his gaze to the youth's eyes.

Perceiving something, he averted his gaze, nodding casually as if nothing had happened. "Alright."

His tone was so indifferent that it seemed like a mere casual remark.

With that, he maneuvered his wheelchair around and, carrying the bag of gradually cooling coffee, exited the shop.

Exiting the shop, stepping down the stairs.

As the wheelchair approached the accessible ramp leading to Ji's building, Ji Min asked softly over his shoulder, "Why did you follow me?"

Butler Chen's voice sounded, "Please forgive me, I really can't help but worry about you going out alone."

Ji Min closed his eyes, suppressing the impatience in his gaze.

Yet, he was well aware that this was an objective reality determined by his physical condition, and he couldn't blame anyone else for it.

They walked a little further.

Ji Min handed the now tepid paper bag in his arms to Butler Chen. "Here, a cup of Americano for you."

Butler Chen took the paper bag, somewhat surprised. "Old folks like me don't fancy this sort of thing."

"Then just throw it away," Ji Min said.

Butler Chen lowered his gaze at him.

The figure sitting in the wheelchair in front appeared no different from usual.

Butler Chen had watched Ji Min grow up, but after the incident, he often found it difficult to read Ji Min's thoughts.

"Butler Chen asked, "Were you unable to make amends with that schoolmate as planned today?"

Ji Min's wheelchair paused for an almost imperceptible moment.

It was just a fleeting instant before it resumed its regular pace.

"He doesn't believe me," Ji Min said.

It wasn't because he minded the past misunderstandings.

Nor was he being ungrateful after benefiting from a situation.

It was simply a matter of distrust... and wariness.

He felt guilty about his own behavior.

Yet, the other party maintained an attitude of a complete stranger, showing no anticipation of an apology or remorse from him.

He even found it burdensome and just wanted to know when he would leave.

They passed by a trash bin.

Butler Chen really raised his hand to throw away the coffee in his grasp.

The wheelchair suddenly stopped again in front.

The person on the wheelchair turned their head, staring at the coffee in his hand.

"Butler Chen, are you really going to make an old man like me drink it?" he asked.

Ji Min stretched out his hand towards him. "Give it to me."

He took the paper bag from Butler Chen.

Removing the coffee cup from within, he unpacked it and sipped gently.

The Americano had grown tepid, not quite delivering the refreshing chill of ice.

Its temperature was neither warm nor hot, yet it carried an inexplicable bitter taste.

In the Shen family household.

The recent atmosphere had been far from tranquil.

Madam Shen's hasty raid on the barbecue club to apprehend someone had eventually reached Shen Hongyuan's ears.

That very evening, Shen Hongyuan engaged in a fierce argument with her, subsequently moving to live at his company.

Moreover, Shen Xingran's situation was even more trying.

Madam Shen was currently dining in the restaurant.

The servant said something, to which she responded with a gentle smile.

Shen Xingran stood on the stairs and observed for a while, making sure that Madam Shen was in a good mood before he descended with his gift.

"Mom!" He approached her as affectionately as always.

Madam Shen glanced at him with a faint expression.

Maintaining his smile, Shen Xingran showed her the box in his hand.

Opening the box revealed a strand of black pearl necklace inside.

The pearls shimmered radiantly, with uniform size, and an eye-catching design.

Shen Xingran said, "Look, Mom. This is a piece designed by a Dubai-based designer. There are only three handmade necklaces like this in the world. When I saw it, I thought it would perfectly complement your black gown, so I asked a friend to help me bid for it."

"Do you like it?"

Shen Xingran awaited his mother's reaction eagerly.

Madam Shen was the easiest to appease.

A few kind words, some shared grievances about Shen Hongyuan, or a precious piece of jewelry that nobody else had—any of these could always bring a smile to Madam Shen's face.

This time, Shen Xingran had truly spared no expense for this pearl necklace.

His personal savings had significantly dwindled.

The moment Shen Xingran opened the box, Madam Shen's eyes involuntarily glued onto the necklace.

She couldn't help but pick it up to admire it.

Seeing Madam Shen's reaction, Shen Xingran finally let out a sigh of relief.

Having been adopted by the Shen family for so many years, he had always been cherished by every member of the family.

Madam Shen, in particular, had always indulged his every desire.

But this time, Madam Shen was genuinely angry with him.

He had ignored him for several days in a row.

Shen Xingzhuo usually stayed outside the house on a daily basis.

Shen Hongyuan was even more unpredictable, often not returning home at all.

As a result, Shen Xingran spent the most time with Madam Shen. Now, she wore a constant frown, making Shen Xingran uncomfortable.

"Mom, let me help you put it on?" Shen Xingran offered.

He had already begun to plan how he would lavish praise later.

Madam Shen nodded absentmindedly.

Suddenly, her gaze fell upon the high-priced receipt in the box.

Shen Xingran had been waiting for her to notice it, and he casually averted his eyes as if nothing was amiss.

In the past, whenever Madam Shen received gifts from him, she would always return the money to him untouched.

This time, Shen Xingran waited for Madam Shen to initiate the conversation.

Madam Shen slowly reached out and took out the receipt.

Upon verifying the amount on the receipt, the joy in her eyes faded, replaced suddenly by a hint of suspicion.

Out of the blue, she asked, "Where did you get so much money?"

Shen Xingran was taken aback.

He instinctively explained, "They're all the pocket money that Dad and my brothers gave me over time. I saved it up without spending any."

In the past, upon hearing such words, Madam Shen would have praised him for his obedience.

But this time, she cast him a glance.

Speaking in an accent that Shen Xingran couldn't quite comprehend, she said, "Your father dotes on you quite a bit, doesn't he?"

Shen Xingran found himself at a loss for words for a moment.

"Enough, don't buy such items in the future." Mrs. Shen tossed the necklace back into the box and pushed it away.

She stood up and left the dining table.

A faint grumble reached Shen Xingran's ears: "Spend as you wish, but it's still the Shen family's money, isn't it?"

Shen Xingran froze.

An uncontrollable panic began to creep into his heart.

That night, Shen Xingran called Shen Xingzhuo and arranged to meet him outside.

In the Shen family, Mrs. Shen doted on Shen Xingran the most.

Shen Hongyuan also cared for him deeply.

But Shen Xingran was well aware that this affection was conditional upon him not causing trouble for Shen Hongyuan.

As for his elder brother Shen Xingyu...

There was quite an age gap between Shen Xingran and this eldest brother. Coupled with the fact that Shen Xingyu was often away on business trips, Shen Xingran wasn't particularly close to him. Moreover... He was somewhat afraid of this elder brother. Apart from that, the only person he could rely on was Shen Xingzhuo. Back when he acted recklessly with a sense of security, Shen Xingran had been rather dissatisfied with Shen Xingzhuo. He would frequently bark at Shen Xingzhuo. But now, the moment he saw Shen Xingzhuo, tears immediately welled up in Shen Xingran's eyes. He rushed forward and clung onto Shen Xingzhuo's shoulders. "Brother! Please help me, what if Mom doesn't want me anymore?" "Will they send me back to the orphanage?"

"Brother, I'm so scared..."

These words were half sincere, half pretense.

Of course, the Shen family wouldn't send him back to the orphanage.

He wasn't some insignificant nobody like Lu Ran, who could be ignored.

Shen Xingran clutched at Shen Xingzhuo's sleeve and cried for a while.

"Brother, you know the reason why I said Lu Ran was an illegitimate child. It's all because I was just too frightened. I never meant to hurt anyone..."

With a sob, he looked up at Shen Xingzhuo.

The casual indifference in Shen Xingzhuo's eyes had long vanished, replaced by a frown as he stared intently at his brother.

Shen Xingran was about to continue pouring out his grievances.

Only to hear Shen Xingzhuo inquire, "Ranran, during the birthday banquet, did Zhang Lin go to cause trouble for Lu Ran?"

Shen Xingran was taken aback, not expecting him to bring up this subject.

Before he could recover, Shen Xingzhuo continued, "Did you have prior knowledge of this incident?"