Chapter 104: Having Selfish Motives, but Not for Him

Chapter 104: An Ulterior Motive, But Not for His Sake

At Guan Junshan's repeated invitations, they went to the coffee shop downstairs for a quick coffee.

At this hour, it was fairly empty, and the newly opened shop had a serene atmosphere. Guan Junshan called a server over to take their orders and recommended the signature drinks, but Lin Haoda wasn't interested, ordering only two cups of the cheapest hot cocoa, meaning to wrap things up fast and hinting that they had other matters to attend to.

Guan Junshan's eyes dimmed slightly, and he apologized softly, "I was too forward. I'm afraid I've taken up your time."

Lin Haoda opened his mouth, but speaking reproachfully now would seem too petty. He met Guan Junshan's gaze for a few seconds, then looked away, his eyes darting.

In the end, it was Tong Dong, caught between the two, who couldn't hold back and asked, "What exactly is it? Mr. Guan, why not tell us first?"

Lin Haoda lowered his eyes, thinking: *It can't really be that important, can it?*

Guan Junshan, of course, knew that Lin Haoda had seen through him. Lin Haoda wasn't cunning, but he was perceptive. The only reason he didn't call him out was because he was too soft-hearted and too kind. Since their parting in the car that day, Guan Junshan had been holding himself back from contacting him, and now that he finally had a chance to be together, he wouldn't give it up easily.

He thought for a moment, stayed silent for two seconds, then spoke, addressing Lin Haoda: "I wonder if you still remember Miss He?"

Lin Haoda looked up slightly. "Miss He?"

"You met her at Seth's welcome banquet before," Guan Junshan reminded patiently. "I saw you two got along quite well at the time."

His tone was off, carrying an implication, but Lin Haoda was too preoccupied to notice. He focused on Miss He, replied "I remember" after a moment's pause, and then asked for confirmation, "She's the fiancée of Seth's youngest son, right?"

Guan Junshan's gaze rested on his face, and he gave a faint smile. "Right. They're getting married next month, but there's been a problem with the ceremony venue."

Lin Haoda was taken aback. At the mention of something related to his profession, Tong Dong, sitting next to him, chimed in, "What problem? Was the reserved date taken? Or did the planning company suddenly change their mind and raise the price?"

The server walked over with a tray. Guan Junshan pushed the two cups of hot cocoa toward them and praised with conviction, "Miss Tong is indeed sharp."

The compliment made Tong Dong a little embarrassed. She took a sip and demurred, "Not at all."

"In short, it's something similar. The date was originally set, but due to some issue—either the planning company or the hotel—the venue was double-booked to someone else."

Lin Haoda frowned slightly. "How did that happen? Have you tried to work it out?"

Guan Junshan shook his head, indicating it was difficult. "Miss He found the planning company through a friend's recommendation. She paid a deposit but didn't sign a formal contract in time."

Lin Haoda was silent for a moment, then asked cautiously, "She's not considering changing to another ceremony venue, is she?"

Guan Junshan explained tactfully, "It probably has some special meaning."

Lin Haoda nodded, sat for a while holding the hot cocoa, then said, "I understand."

He didn't explicitly say whether he would help. After a pause, he asked, "Can I contact Miss He directly later?"

Guan Junshan nodded, readily saying "Of course." His lips moved, and he couldn't stop himself from adding, "You're willing to help me... help Miss He?"

Lin Haoda looked up at him, fiddling with the straw before replying vaguely, "I have some connections. I just help find out the situation."

Tong Dong leaned in, unable to hide her grin, and winked at Lin Haoda. "How vast our Group Leader Lin's network is, how stellar his reputation! One phone call, and whoever can help or has a say will come flocking to his side, right?"

Lin Haoda frowned and put on a stern face as if to scold her. Across the table, a look of loneliness crossed Guan Junshan's eyes, and he forced a smile without much sincerity. "I see."

Lin Haoda worried he might misunderstand and quickly explained, "Let's keep things separate. Miss He was very considerate to me before. Even if it's beyond my ability, I still want to ask around for her."

Guan Junshan gazed at him, puzzled by his own tangled emotions. He was the one who had first spoken up, the one who asked for help. Lin Haoda agreed, and Guan Junshan was genuinely happy. But now, seeing how solemnly Lin Haoda emphasized his sincerity toward Miss He, he inexplicably felt regret. He thought: *And what about me? Did Lin Haoda agree to help without considering me at all?*

In truth, this matter hadn't originally been brought to Guan Junshan at all. A while ago, he was visiting Seth as usual, and during lunch, he overheard Miss He complaining about it. Somehow, Lin Haoda's face popped into his mind. Emotion won over reason, and on impulse, he spoke up, saying he had a very good friend who also worked in the industry, and so on.

Miss He looked up at him with a curious expression. "I've known you for so long, but this is the first time I've heard you speak so highly of a friend."

But Guan Junshan, oblivious, began to list details earnestly at the table. Not content with just being considerate, he praised the friend's talent, sense of propriety, and responsibility.

This made Seth and his wife, seated at the head of the table, turn to look at him, smiling, teasing, "The person you described sounds very familiar."

That one remark left Guan Junshan at a loss for words, forcing him to give up his persuasion.

However, after the meal, Miss He came to him privately, beaming, and asked if such a perfect person really existed.

Outside, in the sunlit garden, Guan Junshan gazed out the window for a long time, then smiled nonchalantly and told her, "It's just that I still need an opportunity."

As a clever person, Miss He guessed right away. She paused and agreed, "In that case, I'll trouble Mr. Guan to find a chance to ask him for me."

He was the one who had sought the favor, sung his praises, and made the boast.

Guan Junshan knew in his heart that Lin Haoda's heart was entirely devoted to his work. If there was any selfishness, it was for Miss He, not for himself. No matter how proactive or enthusiastic he was, he was just a middleman trying to connect the dots. To tip Lin Haoda's affections even a little his way—at this point, Guan Junshan finally began to taste defeat.

But no matter how regretful or jealous he felt inside, he couldn't show it on the surface. Don't push, or he'll run. If you push too hard, he'll not only run far away but also bare his teeth to bite—Lin Haoda was like that.

Anyway, this request was settled for now. Guan Junshan wasn't afraid to wait; Lin Haoda would have to meet him again.

The coffee and hot cocoa were only half-finished when, after chatting a bit, Tong Dong couldn't resist asking Guan Junshan which colleague in the industry had made the mistake and refused to take responsibility. Lin Haoda tried to stop her, but she wouldn't give up, so Guan Junshan had to reveal a general idea. After all, the industry circle was small, and even a few vague clues could narrow it down.

Tong Dong's thirst for gossip was unquenchable, and Guan Junshan's willingness to share made him seem very loyal in her book. As a return, she shared a few juicy pieces of gossip from their circle and launched into a lively chat.

Even the great Mr. Guan condescended to join in the gossip, occasionally offering appropriate responses to keep the conversation going.

It wasn't until the hot cocoa was finished that Tong Dong was reluctantly interrupted by Lin Haoda, who reminded her that they still had a pile of ingredients to buy—they still had a lot of shopping left.

Guan Junshan put down his coffee cup, quietly stood up with them, and asked, "Where are you going? The driver is in the garage. Can I give you a ride?"

Lin Haoda declined, telling him they were just going to the fresh supermarket on B1, which they could take the elevator to.

Guan Junshan straightened his suit jacket and nodded. "Then I won't disturb you. Yang Yue is still waiting outside. I'll go first."

Tong Dong called out to him, gesturing at the shopping bag sitting on the empty chair next to them. "Mr. Guan, don't forget your things!"

Guan Junshan stopped in his tracks, turned to look at her, and said gently, "Miss Tong, since it's a gift I've already offered, how could I possibly take it back?"

Then he glanced at Lin Haoda, as though speaking directly to him: "Since you've agreed to help out, I should at least thank you properly."

Lin Haoda met his eyes and corrected softly, "Help... Miss He."

"Right." After a moment, Guan Junshan nodded. "It's nothing serious."

Lin Haoda pursed his lips and looked away, as if agreeing.

Tong Dong, seeing him soften, hesitated: "But I... I didn't really do anything."

"Not at all." Guan Junshan put a hand in his pocket and spoke confidently, his lips forming words of praise. "Miss Tong has extraordinary ability, and judging by her temperament, she'll get along with Miss He. Who can say about the future?"

He extended his hand, lifting the gift bag, beautifully wrapped. "We might see each other often and have a long-term association."

Tong Dong was flustered by the barrage of compliments. Under such circumstances, refusing would have been awkward. Feeling a bit giddy, she took the bag and said politely, "Thank you, Mr. Guan. I'll ask around for that friend of yours."

Then she boasted, "Don't worry, it's no big deal!"

Lin Haoda put a hand on her arm. "Don't get ahead of yourself."

"It's fine." Guan Junshan emphasized deliberately, "I trust you both very much."

Lin Haoda didn't say anything, just nodded and walked towards the checkout counter. Guan Junshan followed, catching up in two steps, one hand propped against the counter edge as he spoke gently, "Two cups of hot cocoa, that's all."

"Is that so." Lin Haoda checked the bill himself, unlocked his phone, and scanned the payment code, his tone flat: "Mr. Guan has been spending quite a bit today."

Guan Junshan opened his mouth, then closed it again. Faced with Lin Haoda's indifferent and deliberately distant attitude, he couldn't get a word out, managing only a dry laugh.

Lin Haoda knew best how to shatter those vague, ambiguous illusions. The warmth in the café was strong, but it couldn't thaw that cold face. Guan Junshan vaguely recalled the not-so-serious relationship between them; he would have preferred Lin Haoda to blow hot and cold like back then, rather than this complete coldness, freezing him to the point of wanting to give up, to the point of losing hope.

The three walked out of the café, and Guan Junshan no longer had the same considerate attentiveness he’d shown at the entrance. Somehow, he seemed a little restrained and cautious.

Under the warm afternoon sunlight that streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling glass panes at their feet, it was time to say goodbye. Guan Junshan spoke quietly, "I'm heading downstairs too. I'll see you to the elevator."

Bathed in the bright light, the faint weariness on his face, the slight gloom hidden between his brows, and the stubble on his chin could no longer be concealed as well as in the dim interior. They all stood out abruptly.

Even though Guan Junshan didn’t look up at Lin Haoda right then, the redness in his eyes was easily caught by the latter. Lin Haoda didn't respond for a long time. Instead, he stepped forward, moving a little closer, studied the man in front of him for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Have you been... still often having trouble sleeping?"

"I..." Guan Junshan looked up, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Lin Haoda. Struggling to keep his voice steady, he whispered, "I'm fine."

How could he be fine? Lin Haoda thought he couldn't even lie properly. He raised his finger, pointing beneath his own eyes, and said, "It's obvious here."

Guan Junshan quickly explained, "That... it's not from insomnia. There's been a lot going on at the company lately; it's hard to get proper rest."

Lin Haoda nodded, becoming understanding again. "Mm. I understand."

The conversation died between them once more. Guan Junshan didn’t want to let go, yearning to hear another caring word from Lin Haoda’s mouth, to prove it wasn't just his imagination.

He rubbed his fingers together nervously, like a child, and whispered, "I didn't expect you to still remember that."

Lin Haoda shook his head slightly and said to him, "What I remember is you saying you needed to take medicine."

That day, on his way to work, just as he was about to reach the subway station, he came across volunteers from the community hospital handing out health leaflets. The leaflet said insomnia was becoming an increasingly common health problem, affecting tens of thousands of young people every year.

He flipped the leaflet over and saw the image printed on the back—the medications an insomniac tries when seeking treatment, densely packed and colorful, covering half a desktop, enough to form a small hill.

Lin Haoda just stood there on the escalator and read it, then casually tossed the leaflet into the trash bin. The subway car was crowded during rush hour, the air suffocating. After three rings, as the doors closed, he was pressed against the glass and thought: Does Guan Junshan also have to take a handful of pills every night before bed?

Or even after swallowing them, they still don't work? Lin Haoda's heart softened at the thought; he was afraid the answer was the latter, because then he would have to feel sympathy for Guan Junshan the same way he would for any ordinary stranger.

The two stood facing each other, silent for a while. Guan Junshan felt he should learn to be content, so he spoke first, "Don't overthink it. My insomnia has improved a lot."

"I'll rest once I'm back home from the mall." Guan Junshan let out a relaxed smile, his tone loosening as well. "Tomorrow too—I have a rare full day off, so I'll be resting well."

Saying this, he seemed to just remember something, and said somewhat abruptly, "Happy New Year."

Lin Haoda thanked him and replied, "Happy New Year."

The escalator descended step by step. There were hardly any people on it, so it had switched to energy-saving mode, moving very slowly.

Guan Junshan changed his mind on the spot, deciding to part ways here and take the escalator down alone. He shifted his gaze towards it. "Just remembered I need to buy some bread downstairs, so I won't join you for the elevator."

Lin Haoda had no objection, nodded and said "Okay," then after a moment added, "Goodbye."

Tong Dong stood aside, witnessing Guan Junshan's repeated hesitation mid-speech and Lin Haoda's habit of breaking one sentence into three parts, as if they were acting out a painful love drama. Unable to bear it any longer, she reached out and stopped Guan Junshan as he was about to leave, smiling at him, "Mr. Guan, even people with trouble sleeping can barely manage to sleep a whole day and night, right?"

"We've made plans to ring in the New Year together tonight. We're all young, and you're a friend of Brother Haoda. Would you consider joining us?"

Lin Haoda beside her froze for a moment, then immediately turned his head to glare at her, clearly disapproving of such a casual, unreasonable, and hasty invitation. But Tong Dong didn't look back at him, and she didn't care.

Her intuition had never failed her. Since there was mutual interest on both sides, and they were hesitating and unwilling to say goodbye, she might as well be the one to do the good deed. It was just a matter of moving her lips.

Besides, having received something for free—she wasn't stupid. That "gift" from Mr. Guan was far too generous. To say she felt undeserving was an understatement. Didn't he go through all that trouble just to see a certain someone?

So even if Lin Haoda glared holes through her today, Tong Dong, who was usually very good at reading the room, chose selective blindness. From an angle Lin Haoda couldn't see, she frantically winked at Guan Junshan: "We were just about to head to the supermarket for groceries, Mr. Guan. You said earlier your car was in the garage, right? Then how about you give us a ride to Haoda's place, huh?"

After all, Tong Dong wasn't about to call this a betrayal bought with gifts. She thought of it as repaying kindness, and a drop of kindness deserved to be repaid in torrents.