Life and Death Insurance – CH 045

Chapter 45

“Manager Ling, you look quite pale,” Cheng Jing said worriedly. “I’ve noticed you’ve been rubbing your temples. Do you have a headache?”

Headache? Yes, he really did have a headache.

“Manager Ling, I learned massage from a friend before. How about I massage some acupoints on your head? Maybe it’ll make you feel better.”

“Okay.”

Hearing Cheng Jing’s suggestion, Ling Zhengzhong also felt a bit tired; after all, he hadn’t had a proper rest since last night.

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Ling Zhengzhong didn’t refuse Cheng Jing’s kindness. He tilted his head back, letting Cheng Jing’s slender fingers gently massage his forehead.

“Manager Ling, I think you’re overworking yourself, which is why you aren’t feeling well. I heard from Sister Le Hua that you used to work until 11 or 12 at night. Even the best body will break down like that in the long run.”

“Hmm…”

Yes, he used to work very late, then grab a quick bite on the way home and go straight to sleep. He wasn’t a workaholic, but it didn’t really matter to him whether he got home early or late—no one would wait for him anyway. But lately, he’d been leaving on time because he wanted to go home early to eat the food Little Hamster cooked, and he wanted to see that gentle smile…

Thinking of this, Ling was startled. He’d changed so much for Xiang Tian lately. He’d given up skipping breakfast, stopped working overtime, started enjoying chatting, and even helped Xiang Tian find a job and sign insurance policies for him. He’d never gone to this much trouble for his previous girlfriends.

Did this mean the little hamster was actually very important to him?

But… Even so, was it really necessary to put him in a subordinate position? Did he have to sacrifice so much just for a hearty diet?

“Cheng Jing, your massage skills are quite good; you could open a business.”

Cheng Jing’s massage technique was indeed excellent. Her soft fingers gently massaged his temples, making Ling Zhengzhong, who was exhausted after a long night, begin to get drowsy.

“Thank you for the compliment, Manager. But this is extra service; you should consider giving me a raise.”

Cheng Jing’s casual joke made Ling Zhengzhong laugh. During the interview, Cheng Jing had given him a very composed and mature impression; he hadn’t expected her to have such a witty side.

“Okay, if you give me a massage every day, I’ll consider giving you a raise.”

“No problem, as long as Manager Ling doesn’t think my technique is too bad.”

“How could that be? Cheng Jing, you’re as good as those professional masseuses.”

Ling Zhengzhong joked with Cheng Jing, oblivious to the fleeting, forlorn figure outside the door.

Seeing the two laughing and chatting in the office, Xiang Tian felt that coming here was a mistake. He gripped his lunchbox tightly, turned and walked out, not even wanting to take the elevator, and slowly descended the stairs.

He had been genuinely angry when he heard Ling Zhengzhong’s complaints that morning, but after calming down in the bedroom, he realized the other man’s words weren’t entirely unreasonable. After all, any man would feel uncomfortable being suddenly pinned down without warning. Last night, he had only thought about relieving Ling Zhengzhong’s pain caused by the medication, forgetting his original sexual orientation.

Thinking about it this way, he realized he had gone too far that morning. Remembering that Ling Zhengzhong hadn’t even eaten breakfast before going to work, he became worried. So he quickly made breakfast, rushed to the company to clock in, and then took a taxi to Ling Zhengzhong’s place. But the Development Department was empty. He walked down the corridor and immediately saw Ling Zhengzhong leaning back in his boss’s chair, comfortably receiving a massage from his female secretary, smiling and chatting happily with her.

At that moment, his heart sank. He couldn’t bear to look anymore and turned away.

Xiang Tian had felt heartache before, when the bullet pierced his chest, but this time, the pain seemed even more intense. A throbbing pain clouded his mind, and an indescribable chill seeped into his body, leaving him icy cold.

He shouldn’t have provoked Ling Zhengzhong. Knowing his sexual orientation, knowing he preferred women to men, he still couldn’t control his heart. Once passion was ignited, it was like a boundless fire; it wouldn’t stop until everything was burned away.

Last night, he hesitated, but he couldn’t bear to see the person he loved so sad, so he embraced him passionately. Unexpectedly, the other person said he loved him and said he would be with him for life. Just those few words burned away all of Xiang Tian’s rationality, making him willingly lay bare his entire heart to the person who said he loved him.

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It turned out he forgot. Ling Zhengzhong was drugged and completely delirious. Perhaps he didn’t remember what he said or promised last night, but he took it seriously, responded to his request, and responded to his love. In the end, when he actually reached out his hand, the other person didn’t want it at all!

It was better this way. It was better to withdraw early before falling too deep.

Xiang Tian tossed the prepared bento box into a roadside trash can. His mind unsettled, he got into a taxi and thought to himself on the way home.

Ling Zhengzhong got off work on time and went home. Everything that had happened last night had left him in a bad mood. He couldn’t concentrate on work at all; he’d spent the whole day thinking about Xiang Tian. No matter what, it would be better to clarify everything. But how should he say it?

“Xiang Tian, ​​last night was just an accident. Just pretend nothing happened!”…

That sounded like he was the one who had taken advantage and was now acting innocent. He was clearly the victim.

And pretend nothing happened? That seemed unlikely. Besides, last night’s feeling wasn’t bad, and he really liked the hamster, so he wouldn’t object to it occasionally, as long as he was not on the bottom.

“Xiang Tian, ​​I don’t object to being with you, but if you love me, you have to agree to be on the bottom; otherwise, forget it!”

That didn’t sound right either; it seemed a bit threatening, and it sounded like he didn’t care whether Xiang Tian was with him or not.

“Really doesn’t care?” It didn’t seem so.

“Xiang Tian, ​​if we both like each other, I don’t object to continuing the relationship, but two people in love should be considerate of each other, right? How about I take turns on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and you take turns on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and we’ll decide on Sundays by playing rock-paper-scissors?”

“…”

Please, this wasn’t a vegetable market where you haggled. If he really put it that way, Xiang Tian would kick him out.

God, someone help him? He’d had many relationships, but he’d never had any experience communicating with a boyfriend. As he approached his home and saw the lights on inside, Ling Zhengzhong’s head began to throb again.