Gu Cheng hadn't expected to run into Lin Jingchen here today either.
The funny thing was that the man had actually dropped his proper facade. During their previous business discussions, no matter how Gu Cheng had provoked him or tried to anger him, his expression had never changed, as though he hadn't taken Gu Cheng's words to heart at all.
It had infuriated him.
"He's actually sticking his nose into this. Looks like he knows that little idiot." Gu Cheng felt he'd found something entertaining.
"Well, well, if it isn't President Lin. Finished dealing with company business? How do you still have time to stick your nose into other people's affairs?"
Gu Cheng heavily emphasized "stick your nose into other people's affairs."
Lin Jingchen had already composed his expression. Earlier, after reading the messages Bai Chen had sent him outside, he had taken a phone call.
Bai Chen still hadn't come out after he finished the call, which seemed a little strange.
Just then, the cheerful laughter of several young men drifted out from inside.
Immediately sensing that something was wrong, he had hurried to within a few meters of the lobby.
There, he had seen Bai Chen crouching with his head lowered, picking money up off the floor. He couldn't make out his expression.
Several young men stood in front of him, hurling insults at him.
At that moment, Lin Jingchen had felt an ache in his heart, something he had never experienced before.
Lin Jingchen hadn't known exactly what had happened between them. All he knew was that he had to go over immediately, whatever had happened.
When Bai Chen looked up at him, his eyes were helpless and vacant, and his clothes were filthy.
He firmly believed Bai Chen couldn't have started this.
Even if he had, it didn't matter.
Looking at those men, Lin Jingchen could no longer maintain his usual amiability.
He had only one thought: he wanted to kill them.
He gave a soft chuckle and said, "Whatever do you mean? Why don't you go home and ask your father whether the Gu Group can still win this bid, Young Master Gu?"
The sharp glint behind his glasses gave Gu Cheng a bad feeling.
"No, that's impossible. I made absolutely sure we'd win this bid. How could anything go wrong? What did you do?" Gu Cheng was visibly panicking.
But Lin Jingchen didn't answer him. He simply took Bai Chen's hand and led him out of the lobby.
Before leaving, he cast a sidelong glance at the other three.
Those three hadn't even dared breathe loudly upon seeing Lin Jingchen. That glance, in particular, sent a sudden chill down their backs.
Bai Chen's hand was very hot now, while Lin Jingchen's was cool.
The hand felt cool, but his heart felt warm.
A faint smile gradually curved his lips as he watched Lin Jingchen leading him by the hand, this Mr. Lin who was taking him away from that place of trouble.
An unfamiliar emotion seemed to well up in his heart, though he couldn't say what it was.
It was simply warm.
Only after getting him into the car did Lin Jingchen slowly release his hand.
"Sorry. I shouldn't have taken your hand without asking." Only then did Lin Jingchen realize he had been holding the young proprietor's hand the entire time, and he felt a little embarrassed.
Bai Chen shook his head slightly and said without concern, "It's all right. Thank you for what you did back there."
Other than thanking him, he didn't know how to express his gratitude.
If Lin Jingchen hadn't come to his rescue, he probably wouldn't have gotten away so quickly.
At the very least, he would have had to endure another round of humiliation from the Campus F4.
Bai Chen actually felt it didn't matter much, as long as things didn't get increasingly complicated. If he cooperated with them and didn't talk back, it would soon be over.
He wasn't the protagonist. Why would he get a scene where a hero rescued a beauty?
There was no hero, and he was no beauty.
Yet just then, Lin Jingchen had walked straight toward him and firmly taken his side without asking what had happened.
It would be a lie to say he hadn't been moved. But beyond thanking him, he truly didn't know how to repay him. He was far too powerless.
At his words, Lin Jingchen suddenly broke into a radiant smile, his voice soft and low, yet troubled. "Young proprietor, I've noticed you're always so formal with me. I'm really not much older than you. When you address me like that, I feel years older."
"Ah... well, I honestly didn't think much of it. You're a guest at our teahouse, so naturally I should address you respectfully," Bai Chen explained. He really hadn't felt there was anything wrong with it.
Lin Jingchen said, "How about this? Don't be so formal with me from now on. We count as friends now, don't we?"
"Friends? Of course. You're certainly my friend, Mr. Lin. It's an honor to be friends with you," Bai Chen said.
Having received the answer he wanted, Lin Jingchen was in a good mood too. But he certainly wouldn't let those men off.
He didn't know why, either, but ever since he first met Bai Chen, he had felt as though the young man held some irresistible attraction for him.
It had led him to develop a fondness for pottery and tea as well, and he always found himself going to the teahouse for business discussions and work.
Whenever he saw Bai Chen being mistreated, he would rush over without a second thought.
None of these things were like him at all. He had never acted so rashly without considering the consequences.
But he never regretted it.
Lin Jingchen checked Bai Chen's condition, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.
He quickly started the car and said, "Rest for a while. I'll wake you when we reach the hospital."
Bai Chen was clearly exhausted as well. He nodded groggily, leaned back against the seat, and fell asleep.
When he woke again, they were already on the hospital grounds.
Bai Chen got out first, then leaned toward the window to thank Lin Jingchen. "Mr. Lin, sir... you can go ahead. I can go in on my own. Thank you for today. Have a safe drive."
He had been about to address him formally, but remembered their earlier conversation and immediately corrected himself.
Before he could finish speaking, however, Lin Jingchen opened the door on his side and stepped out.
"Come on. I'll go with you, then take you back to school afterward." Lin Jingchen gave Bai Chen no chance to refuse. "Your forehead is burning. You need an injection to bring the fever down. It'll be late by the time you're done, and no taxi will accept a ride. Since I brought you here, I should take you back too."
Bai Chen was speechless.
That did seem reasonable.
Still, he felt he could stay at an inn for the night after getting the injection.
Last time, he'd had no money on his phone and no cash on him. Today, he had brought enough money, so staying at a cheap inn wouldn't be a problem.
Bai Chen said, "Mr. Lin, I can find an inn nearby and stay there tonight after the injection. I don't have classes tomorrow morning, so it's fine if I go back a little later."
Hearing that, Lin Jingchen considered it for a moment before telling Bai Chen, "I don't have any work tonight, so you don't need to worry about inconveniencing me. Besides, I need to go back to the school later anyway. It's fine to take care of that a little later."
Bai Chen found himself unable to refute any of the reasons he offered.
Bai Chen thought that refusing again now would make him seem needlessly coy.
"Let's go," Lin Jingchen said as he walked over to Bai Chen's side, a smile on his lips.
"Oh, okay." Bai Chen quickly agreed.
The two walked into the hospital side by side.
There weren't many people in the hospital at night, and it was very quiet.
Now and then, mothers walked about with children in their arms, soothing them as they cried over their injections.
The hospital's regular services closed at six, so Bai Chen could only register at the emergency department for his fever.
After registering, Bai Chen and Lin Jingchen sat down on the hospital chairs.
Something suddenly occurred to Bai Chen, and he turned to ask, "By the way, Mr. Lin, why didn't you ask whether I was at fault? What if I really was in the wrong?"
He really wanted to know why Lin Jingchen could trust him so completely.
"Because I believe you wouldn't start trouble," Lin Jingchen said with a smile.
"Even if you did start it, they must have provoked you first," Lin Jingchen blurted out.
Bai Chen froze for a moment, speechless.
Silence hung between them for a few seconds.
Does he really trust me that much? Bai Chen sighed softly.
After thinking it over, Bai Chen spoke his mind. "Mr. Lin, you can't trust me this much just because we've met a few times. My temper really isn't that good. Sometimes, when I'm pushed too far, I truly am capable of anything."
He was genuinely afraid Lin Jingchen would trust every friend unconditionally. After all, Mr. Lin was kind and deeply compassionate, and that might land him in all sorts of trouble.
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