Snap it off

Cheng Yue had yet to realize how serious the situation was.

"Oh, I'm just doing my part for national policy-getting it all done in one go and retiring forty years early."

Since he would end up working security and collecting bottles anyway, why put himself through all that suffering? Wasn't it better to skip decades of detours?

"Hey, hey, hey, that's no way to think!"

Uncle Li had something to say. "At your age, this is the perfect time to work hard. How can you just lie back and enjoy yourself? You should be out there making something of yourself. What future is there in working security here?"

"Look at my son. He bought a house this big before he even turned fifty, and he drives a luxury car, too. Beep, beep, beep-"

Cheng Yue automatically converted the rest into telegraph signals.

Seventy-nine was prime lecturing age. Practically everyone on their security team had received the same lecture, and their ears were about to grow calluses from hearing it.

The old man meant no harm. His rigid mindset simply made him think security work was a dead end, when in fact he knew nothing about the intricacies involved.

Other property management companies might hire guards of dubious quality to cut costs, but this was a residential complex where homes cost over a hundred thousand yuan per square meter.

Never mind the steep management fees. If anything actually happened, any resident could call on their network of connections and land the entire management company in serious trouble.

The company's owner knew perfectly well what mattered more.

Uncle Li's greatest pride in life was raising a successful son who had attended a prestigious university, joined a publicly listed company, and, most importantly, married the boss's daughter.

What he didn't know was that the daughter-in-law he thought so highly of didn't want to live with elderly parents. Left with no choice, his son had tricked him by saying he had bought a new home and needed his elders to move in first to give it a lived-in feel.

The elderly couple, both nearly eighty, didn't understand high-tech gadgets and couldn't use the smart combination lock. After going out one day, they found they couldn't get back inside. When they came to the guards for help, they cried like children.

Uncle Li was still proudly recounting his son's glorious achievements. Cheng Yue leaned against the wall with his arms folded, listening intermittently as his gaze beneath his cap gradually grew distant.

It was as though he were looking through the old man at someone else's shadow.

Tap, tap.

Cheng Yue snapped out of it. Turning to see the figure in the doorway, he asked in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

The little security office was certainly lively today.

Ji Huaijin said nothing, silently looking at the old man holding forth.

Cheng Yue followed his gaze.

The room abruptly fell silent.

A few seconds later, Uncle Li blinked his cloudy eyes innocently, then suddenly caught on. "Ah! You two talk. It's time I headed back anyway."

There were two small steps outside the security office. Cheng Yue helped him down slowly, but watching him sway every few steps, he couldn't bear to leave him to it.

"Why don't you wait a moment? I'll ask a colleague to help you home."

"No need!"

Uncle Li, who had just been lamenting that he had to accept his age, waved his cane and declared in a powerful voice, "With this body of mine, I could still take on eight Japanese invaders!"

His hearing and eyesight were sharp, and all his limbs worked fine. He still practiced the Eight Brocades every morning. Apart from some chronic aches in his legs, his daily WeChat step count was probably higher than most young people's.

Cheng Yue had to concede. "All right, all right, I believe you. Now hold your cane properly and watch your step."

The black work uniform cinched around his lean, strong waist. Ji Huaijin still remembered how smooth and powerful it had felt beneath his hands, and he lightly rubbed the fingertips hanging at his side together.

On Cheng Yue, the plain, everyday uniform accentuated his long limbs. He bent to support the old man, his movements careful and his expression attentive and earnest.

Warm sunlight spilled over one side of his face, his long lashes shifting with it. He was simply, ridiculously good-looking.

Ji Huaijin lowered his eyes and curved his lips, a trace of tenderness stirring beneath his gentle gaze.

"What are you secretly smiling about behind my back?"

Had anything funny just happened? Didn't seem like it. Cheng Yue's wary gaze shot straight at him.

Ji Huaijin raised a hand and pinched the brim of his cap, his tone warm. "I'm smiling because you're such a conscientious, responsible security guard."

Did that even need saying? Wasn't it obvious? Tell me something I haven't heard before. Find a new way to praise me.

No, wait. Cheng Yue cleared his throat and straightened up. "What exactly are you here for?"

Ji Huaijin gently set the bag in his hand on the table. "I went to play tennis with a friend. The desserts there were good, so I brought you some."

Only then did Cheng Yue notice that, unlike the suits he had worn on their previous encounters, Ji Huaijin was dressed in simple, understated, light-colored casual clothes today.

After several days apart, Cheng Yue studied that face again and found it somehow both unfamiliar and familiar.

The jammed gears slipped back onto the right track, turning slowly and steadily, awkward yet somehow as though this was how they were always meant to move.

"Try some?"

Cheng Yue didn't move.

Ji Huaijin curved his lips and watched him with calm composure.

After a long while, Cheng Yue walked over to the table, took a brownie from the box, and popped it into his mouth.

"Is it good?"

Cheng Yue rarely ate desserts, but he could still appreciate the little cake's mild sweetness and soft, dense texture. It really was good.

Glancing at the man's relaxed expression, he mumbled, "It's okay."

Ji Huaijin couldn't help chuckling. "If you like it, I'll bring you more next time."

Cheng Yue paused mid-chew. "...Don't bother. Just stay away from me!"

Long accustomed to Cheng Yue discarding him once he had served his purpose, Ji Huaijin simply brushed the chocolate crumbs from the corner of his mouth with his index finger.

"Keep up the good work, Mr. Conscientious and Responsible Security Guard."

Cheng Yue watched his retreating figure through gritted teeth, then raised a hand and scrubbed hard at the corner of his mouth.

Mocking me, huh? Just you wait. If a thief comes, I'll be the first to point them your way!

Between charging after him to beat him up and swallowing his anger, he chose to continue diligently manning the gate.

Stuffing the last dessert into his mouth, he didn't forget to "thank him politely."

[Touch me again and see if I don't snap it off!]

Cheng Yue was on the middle shift. At six thirty in the evening, during rush hour, he was busy directing traffic when a car slowly pulled up beside him.

The window rolled down, revealing that same annoyingly handsome face.

Four words floated through his mind: He just won't disappear.

Ji Huaijin picked up an insulated food container from the passenger seat and reached out to hand it to him.

Cheng Yue: "?"

"Dinner."

Cars piled up behind him, their horns blaring impatiently.

As though he couldn't hear them, Ji Huaijin shook the container to signal for him to take it. "If you don't take it soon, the people behind me will start throwing punches."

Seeing that the situation was about to descend into chaos, Cheng Yue had no time to argue. He hurriedly took the container and waved for him to get moving.

Even after things quieted down, Cheng Yue was still grumbling inwardly. Sure enough, there was a reason to dislike someone. Not one good thing had happened since he met Ji Huaijin!

All he did was make trouble for him!

Still full of resentment, he opened the container Ji Huaijin had brought him. A sticky note was attached to the lid of one compartment.

Puzzled, Cheng Yue peeled it off and brought it closer.

[Don't snap it off. It still has its uses.]

Cheng Yue: "..."

You'd better be talking about your finger!