A full-blown jealousy attack

"And then?" Zhang Nan asked.

"Then... that was it." Shan Ye blinked.

Zhang Nan blinked too. "The boss... definitely likes you too." He sounded certain.

Shan Ye smiled and raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"

"I've worked here for over three years. Aside from his army buddies, I've never seen the boss have much contact with anyone. Then there's you, Mr. Shan."

"You don't know this, but last time, his friend accidentally knocked over and broke the vase of roses you arranged. The boss nearly lost his temper."

Shan Ye really hadn't known about that. Losing his temper? He couldn't even associate those words with Fan Jin.

"What happened?"

Zhang Nan scratched his head. "Well, maybe not lost his temper. I remember them arguing a little. The boss said his friend was careless. Anyway, his tone was pretty stern. It was the first time I'd seen him say so much, and he was really harsh."

Shan Ye went still. He glanced toward the bar. The vase of roses was long gone, but he could almost see their shadow again, along with the scene of the argument.

Shan Ye smiled. "And his friend didn't say anything? He wasn't angry?"

Zhang Nan shook his head. "No, they're really close. Xu said the boss helped him a lot when he was going through a rough patch."

Reassured, Shan Ye nodded. "That's good, then."

He tried to imagine what Fan Jin looked like when he was angry. Would he be fierce?

"Enjoy your drink, Mr. Shan. I'll refill it when you're done." With that, Zhang Nan turned and went back to work behind the bar.

Two days later, Fan Jin returned to Muzhou with his grandmother. He took her back to the nursing home, got her settled, and sat with her in the courtyard for a while.

Fan Jin peeled an orange for her and handed it over.

His grandmother accepted it with a smile. "Jin, remember what I told you. Find someone to keep you company soon. Don't be lonely."

"All right, Grandma."

Fan Jin peeled another orange for himself. As he ate, he said, "...Grandma."

She looked at him. "What is it, dear?"

He hesitated, but still wanted to say it.

"What do you think of Shan Ye?" After asking, he lowered his head, avoiding her eyes.

His grandmother was silent for a moment too. "You mean, as your partner?"

"Yes." Fan Jin nodded.

Her expression immediately turned serious. She tapped Fan Jin on the head. "He's a man. You need to find a woman, someone you can marry and have children with."

Fan Jin had known this would be her response. He drew a deep breath and said, "Grandma, I'll be thirty-three this year, and I've never met a woman I liked. I've never thought about getting married or having children. But you told me to find someone to keep me company..."

"...And the only person I can think of is Shan Ye."

"I've let you down as your grandson. I've disappointed you." He kept his head lowered before her.

His grandmother sighed and touched his face. "You've been quiet ever since you were little, and you haven't been happy either. It hurts me to see you like that. I wanted you to find someone you truly liked to share your life with..."

"If you really like him... I won't stop you."

Fan Jin lifted his head. "So you approve?"

"I'm so old I couldn't hold a great-grandchild anyway. All I want is to see someone by your side before I go, to see you happy and not alone." His grandmother smiled. "At least you've practically found yourself a spouse. I thought I'd die before I ever saw..."

"Grandma, don't say that." Fan Jin cut her off.

"All right. Bring him to visit this old lady again next time, then, so I can stop worrying," she said happily.

Fan Jin was back, but Shan Ye had to leave on a business trip. Their schedules crossed this time, and they didn't get to see each other.

That afternoon, Shan Ye packed at home, his phone lying on the bed with the speaker on. The screen displayed Fan.

"Fan, there's something I need to tell you." He tucked a folded shirt into his suitcase. "The university's sending Yu Chuan and me to another university out of town for an exchange visit. We'll be gone for three days."

The other end of the line went quiet for a moment.

"Our flight's tonight."

Still no sound.

Shan Ye stopped packing and picked up his phone to check. The call was still connected. Fan Jin hadn't hung up.

"Fan?"

"...Mm." His voice was flat, even a little displeased. "Why so sudden?"

Shan Ye heard it and hurried to explain. "The university assigned us. I didn't volunteer. There's nothing I can do. I can't exactly turn it down."

"Got it."

"So, are you... upset?"

"No." His intonation dropped on that one word. Anyone could have heard how unhappy Fan Jin was.

Shan Ye set down the garment in his hand and sat on the edge of the bed, softening his voice. "It's only three days. It'll go by fast. I'll message you when I get there, and every day after that. Okay?"

The other end was silent for several seconds.

"Yu Chuan's going too?" Fan Jin suddenly asked.

Shan Ye blinked, barely able to contain the little surge of delight in his chest. Fan was asking about Yu Chuan.

"Yes. Our group assigned the two of us."

"Why is he going too? How many people?"

"Just us. Each group sends two people. Did you forget, Fan? He's my colleague. We're in the same group." Shan Ye kept his tone light, trying to reassure him.

Fan Jin wasn't reassured. Instead, his silence lasted even longer than before, so long that Shan Ye thought they'd lost the signal. He checked the screen. The call was still connected.

"Fan, what's wrong?"

"Let me know when you get there safely." Fan Jin's voice returned to its usual flat tone. "I'm hanging up."

"Wait-"

Beep.

Shan Ye stared at the words "Call ended" on the screen, stunned for two seconds. Then he flopped back onto the bed, buried his face in the folded clothes, and laughed so hard his shoulders shook.

Fan was jealous.

Fan was jealous because of Yu Chuan.

And he was being so obvious about it, not even trying to hide it, although he probably thought he'd hidden it very well.

Shan Ye rolled over, held up his phone, and opened his chat with Fan Jin. He typed a few words, deleted them, and repeated this several times. He wanted to ask, "Are you jealous?" but was afraid he'd tease him too far and Fan Jin would stop talking to him altogether.

In the end, he sent, "Fan, I'll call you as soon as I get there."

About two minutes later, a reply came.

"Oh." Just one word.

Shan Ye stared at the message. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed to radiate sulky awkwardness. He laid the phone facedown on his chest, unable to stop smiling.

"I'll miss you." Shan Ye sent another message.

Meanwhile, Fan Jin tossed his phone onto the sofa, stood in the kitchen, and turned on the faucet to wash his hands. The water was cold, but his skin still felt hot.

He liked Shan Ye.

So he couldn't stand the thought of Shan Ye being alone with Yu Chuan.

It was childish, but he knew he couldn't control it.

Fan Jin stubbed his cigarette out in the ashtray, picked up his phone, and typed, "What time's your flight?"

After sending it, he stared at the screen and felt like an idiot. He hadn't asked during the call, and now he was messaging to ask.

Shan Ye replied instantly. "Seven tonight."

Fan Jin typed another line. "I miss you too." After sending it, he tossed his phone aside.

Fuck. What the hell was all this?

That Yu bastard really had all the luck, getting to go on a business trip with Shan Ye. Irritation simmered inside him, and he kept holding it back.

His phone kept chiming. Fan Jin hesitated, then picked it up to look.

Shan Ye had sent, "Okay!!" followed by a sticker of a little cat nodding furiously.