Chapter 41: Tell Me, Isn't This Awkward?

Zhang Shen felt that his own affairs were finally settled, and seeing that Jiang Muyun and Mu Qiao seemed to have nothing pressing, he said, “Since that's the case, I must thank Mr. Zheng and Director Wei.”

Zheng Tiande and Wei Xiaorong dared not accept such grand gratitude, hastily insisting otherwise.

After a brief exchange with Zheng Ke, Zhang Shen left the Zheng household with Jiang Muyun and Mu Qiao. Noting it was still early, he decided to go home for another nap. After dropping Jiang Muyun and Mu Qiao off at the retirement home, he returned to his “doghouse” and continued his dreams.

…

It had to be said, Zhang Shen was indeed quite a sleeper—he slept so deeply, the world seemed to spin.

Just as he was waking naturally, his phone rang again, triggering a burst of irritation. He glanced at the screen—it was Ye Qiong calling. Zhang Shen sighed.

The matter of Chen Tingting’s boyfriend still required Ye Jianfei’s help; he couldn’t very well show a bad attitude just because he’d been woken.

Thinking of Chen Tingting, Zhang Shen suddenly realized he’d overslept again. Only this time, Chen Tingting hadn’t hounded him like a debt collector.

By now, the phone had been ringing for a while, so Zhang Shen hurriedly answered.

“Hello!”

“What took you so long to pick up?”

“Uh… I had a few things to do.”

“I bet it wasn’t ‘a few things,’ you just overslept! Aren’t you supposed to be the night shift manager? It’s so late and you’re nowhere to be found!”

Faced with Chen Tingting’s questioning, Zhang Shen couldn’t quite understand. Why did his work concern her? Wasn’t this a bit much?

“You’re outside my internet café?”

“Yes, and no. You’ve only guessed half right.”

Zhang Shen was puzzled—were young women nowadays all so glib, or was he just old-fashioned?

“What do you mean ‘yes and no’?”

“Idiot, I’m not outside the café, I’m already inside, surfing the web.”

“You’re here so late, instead of heading home?”

Ye Qiong seemed sent by heaven to spar with Zhang Shen—she was practically possessed by the spirit of a contrarian.

“I’ll say this: your manager is strange. Isn’t an internet café open for people to surf the web? Why do you care when I come? I’m warning you, hurry up or I’ll report you for being late.”

If Ye Qiong were standing before him, Zhang Shen might have strangled her. His boss hadn’t complained, yet here was an unrelated person making a fuss.

Still, since Ye Qiong was at the café, he might as well discuss Chen Tingting’s boyfriend with her, to see if Ye Jianfei was easy to talk to.

Zhang Shen quickly freshened up and headed to the café. Upon arrival at the counter, he saw Chen Tingting and her boyfriend openly engaged in intimacy.

Zhang Shen thought, this is a public space—couldn’t they restrain their display of affection, especially with a camera overhead?

He stood there for over five minutes before he could no longer bear it and tapped the counter.

“Tingting, I’m here for my shift.”

Chen Tingting and Pei Wei immediately looked up at Zhang Shen.

“Miracle Doctor, why are you here? Didn’t I tell you to rest at home?”

“I wanted to research something tonight, so I came to use the internet. Besides, I can’t let you work the night shift alone; that’s too tiring.”

“It’s no trouble! Miracle Doctor, how’s the matter I asked you to handle?”

Chen Tingting looked to Zhang Shen for a glimmer of hope.

“Uh… It’s still in progress. Please be patient, Tingting. When you need help, you can’t rush things.”

At this, Pei Wei, who seemed quite savvy, chimed in.

“Miracle Doctor, I’ve heard Tingting mention your name many times. Though we’ve only met once, you left a strong impression.”

Zhang Shen thought, what a flattering remark. As for hearing about him, it was likely that every time Tingting was late, she blamed him.

Seeing Zhang Shen remain silent, Pei Wei continued, “I’ll leave it to you, Miracle Doctor.”

“I’ll do my best. I’ll do my best!”

With nothing more to discuss, Zhang Shen said, “Tingting, it’s getting late. You two should head home.”

Since Zhang Shen insisted, Chen Tingting didn’t object and said, “Alright, I’ll go change.”

Pei Wei, clever as ever, excused himself to smoke and left the café.

Just as Zhang Shen sat before the computer, intending to look up information about Yuehu City Health Vocational College, a familiar voice sounded beside him.

“Our great Miracle Doctor seems busy—came in and didn’t even greet me.”

Zhang Shen looked at Ye Qiong, uncertain how he’d become entangled with such a woman.

“I just got here.”

“Oh! So you dove right into work? Let me see what you’re browsing—not something inappropriate, I hope!”

“Don’t be ridiculous. All activity here is logged.”

“What, feeling guilty?”

Ye Qiong stepped behind the counter, and when she saw the webpage about Yuehu City Health Vocational College, she was surprised.

“Why are you searching for my school?”

Zhang Shen hadn’t expected Ye Qiong to be a student there. Eager, he tugged at Ye Qiong’s sleeve and asked, “Tell me, what’s that school like?”

“What’s your angle? Why are you suddenly so interested in my school?”

Ye Qiong had no idea that before long, Zhang Shen would be joining as a transfer student.

“Of course, I have a reason. Tell me…”

Before Zhang Shen could finish, his phone rang again. He saw it was Chen Tingting calling.

He felt a bit confused—her boyfriend was outside, so why was she calling him? Perhaps something else had come up.

“Hello!”

“Zhang Shen, please do me a favor.”

Clearly, Chen Tingting sounded anxious, calling him directly by name. Zhang Shen didn’t care about such details; he knew something must have happened.

“Tingting, what is it?”

“My boyfriend’s phone seems dead, and I can’t reach him. Could you buy me a pack of sanitary pads? I’m still in the restroom.”

Zhang Shen could hardly believe his ears. He was still a virgin—how could he possibly buy women’s sanitary products? If anyone saw, he’d lose all dignity.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up!”

On the other end, Chen Tingting sounded awkward and uneasy.