Blazing fire is hard to extinguish chapter 6
Reunion
When Li Tingyan left Lin Chi’s neighborhood, he never expected to see Lin Chi again.
It was just a brief episode in his life, like tire tracks in the snow that disappear by morning.
Lin Chi had a beautiful smile, especially alluring and bold when he had been sitting on his lap, the sunlight streaming into the room, his upper body bare, his skin as smooth as silk and shining like diamonds.
Beautiful, arrogant, and interesting personality.
Truly unforgettable.
But that was all there was to it.
Xu Mu’s marriage indeed hit him hard, but it wasn’t enough to change his personality, make him indulgent, or desperately seek out another relationship.
A fleeting affair was just right.
Like a spring dream leaving no trace, waking up with only the feeling of fallen petals slipping through his fingers.
But fate often plays by its own rules.
Lin Chi stood straight, listening to the supervisor’s lecture. He wore a white shirt and vest, neatly pressed trousers. Although it was just a uniform, it fit him well, outlining his figure.
Listening to the supervisor calmly point out everyone’s mistakes for the week, he sighed inwardly, thinking he was definitely not cut out for this job. He planned to quit as soon as he got this month’s paycheck. Any longer, and he feared it would shorten his life.
He had only been at this private club for twenty days. He was short on cash recently, having had little work the previous month, and an event that promised to hire him was canceled last minute. With rent and dance class fees due, his finances were in dire straits.
A friend introduced him to this job, saying a private club was hiring waiters. Though the work was simple, the club catered to wealthy clients and offered good pay.
Under normal circumstances, Lin Chi would have refused without a second thought. But being broke makes even heroes falter. Seeing his credit card bill and hearing that the club paid biweekly, he packed his bags and came over.
The supervisor finally finished talking and announced a break.
Lin Chi discreetly loosened his tie and exhaled.
As his friend had described, the work here wasn’t too tiring, and being a waiter required no technical skills. His colleagues varied but none were too difficult to get along with.
However, Lin Chi’s lively nature found such monotonous work unbearable. Having to smile all the time, not getting angry even if a guest acted up, was really too hard for him.
Looking at his paycheck, he calculated that he had enough for the next two months’ rent, solidifying his plan to quit next month.
His agency didn’t mind him taking side jobs, but he never intended to shine in the service industry; making a bit of money was enough.
With that thought, his mood improved a bit. Though standing on the job was still painful, his mindset became more relaxed.
Despite feeling like he was in jail, at least there was a countdown.
Break time ended, and Lin Chi returned to work. As night fell, business at the club picked up.
Though the club had limited private rooms and few guests per day, luxury cars still flowed past the entrance.
Following a senior colleague, Lin Chi was busy with preparations. After a while, he was tapped on the shoulder and told a guest’s medicine had arrived, and he needed to fetch it from the entrance.
Lin Chi immediately went to do the errand.
At the entrance, he took the item from a middle-aged man and turned to leave. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar car pulling up.
License plate ending in 07.
Lin Chi’s eyelid twitched.
At that moment, the doorman stepped up and opened the car door.
The person who got out looked more relaxed than the last time Lin Chi saw him, wearing a light khaki suit and a cream silk shirt, his handsome but aloof face exuding a natural authority.
Lin Chi was stunned for a moment; the person getting out was Li Tingyan.
It had only been a little over a month, of course, he hadn’t forgotten the man he spent a night with in a hotel, let alone that he had attended a wedding with him.
Perhaps his gaze was too noticeable, because Li Tingyan glanced his way. Seeing Lin Chi, Li Tingyan also froze for a moment.
His gaze swept over Lin Chi, quickly recognizing the club uniform. He frowned slightly, barely moving his toes forward as if intending to approach.
But just then, the people meeting him arrived, one of whom greeted him warmly, “Mr. Li.”
The others also came over, exchanging pleasantries and ushering Li Tingyan inside.
Li Tingyan hesitated for a few seconds but gave up on talking to Lin Chi.
He retracted his gaze, acting as if he didn’t know Lin Chi, and politely nodded, responding to the others’ conversation.
He was like the moon, still lofty and dignified, smiling out of courtesy but remaining aloof, surrounded by others as he walked into the club.
Only after all the guests had entered did Lin Chi hurry back inside, handing the bag to a waiter waiting outside a private room.
Even then, he was scolded for being too slow.
Especially since he had gone to the main entrance to fetch the item, his senior was even more displeased, “How many times have I told you to use the back door? The main entrance is for guests. You won’t last long if you keep forgetting.”
Lin Chi didn’t explain that the delivery was to the wrong place.
After all, the senior was right, it was his mistake. Not getting his pay docked was already kind.
His temperament wasn’t suited for this job long-term.
While wiping the utensils, he was distracted, thinking about the scene at the entrance.
The club’s main entrance wasn’t luxurious but discreetly designed, with soft wall lamps glowing in the night.
Walking under the lights, Li Tingyan’s face seemed colder than the last time they met. Even later, when he chatted with others, his smile was merely polite, devoid of warmth.
Lin Chi thought, this was not like the heartbroken man from that night.
His current indifference, as if nothing could touch him, was reminiscent of the cold, domineering CEO villains in melodramas.
The thought made Lin Chi laugh.
He thought, if Li Tingyan had appeared like this in the bar, he probably wouldn’t have approached him.
Shaking his head, he put the small episode out of his mind and focused on work.
But it seemed he was having a streak of bad luck. In the twenty-one days since he started at the club, things had been smooth. Guests, though varied in temperament, generally didn’t trouble the waitstaff, with some even tipping generously.
Yet today, just as he was planning to quit, he encountered a drunken troublemaker.
“Dear guest, we sincerely apologize for the inappropriate behavior of our waiter. It is our fault for not training our staff properly. I will definitely educate him properly. Please do not be angry.”
The manager earnestly apologized to a skinny man standing in front of him.
Lin Chi had no choice but to bow as well, feeling his patience running thin.
Just now, this skinny man had come out of a private room and needed a waiter to support him.
He clearly had drunk a lot, with his face flushed and reeking of alcohol. He was complaining to those around him, seemingly upset about recent business setbacks and in a particularly foul mood.
Lin Chi had been standing quietly aside, making way for them, almost hiding behind a vase. However, somehow, the skinny man noticed him.
Lin Chi was wearing the same uniform vest as the other staff. The club’s waiters were mostly selected for their looks, and even among them, Lin Chi stood out.
The skinny man glanced at him a few times before suddenly shaking off the waiter supporting him and pointing at Lin Chi, saying, “Let that waiter come over. I’m feeling dizzy; let him help me to the door.”
Lin Chi wasn’t stupid and could clearly see the malicious look in the man’s eyes.
However, under the circumstances, he had to comply. He took a deep breath, walked over obediently, and supported the guest towards the door, constantly reassuring himself that it was just a short distance to the door.
But what should never have happened was the idiot guest grabbing his butt.
Lin Chi lowered his head, reflecting on himself. Okay, maybe he did react a bit too strongly, instinctively throwing the idiot to the ground.
Now, the man, already drunk and in a bad mood, had a reason to make a fuss. He demanded not only that Lin Chi be fired but also that Lin Chi accompany him to the hospital, and only Lin Chi.
Damn it.
A hospital, really.
Lin Chi thought to himself, “I’d be an idiot to go with you.”
The manager, although strict, was still a just person. While continuously apologizing to the guest, he didn’t agree to let Lin Chi go with the guest.
After all, they were still in the club, and a guest causing a drunken scene wasn’t unusual. Although the people who came here were either rich or powerful, they couldn’t really do anything in public.
But if Lin Chi really went with the guest, who knows what might happen. Especially with the man being drunk and unpredictable, the consequences could be severe.
The manager earnestly said, “How about this, I’ll accompany you to the hospital. We will definitely deal with and punish him, and later we will bring him to your residence to apologize and make amends.”
The skinny man, sobering up a bit, became even more sarcastic.
“What use are you to me?” He said coldly, not hiding his malice. “You’re boring. There’s no point in you coming with me. He just knocked me to the ground. I might have hurt myself. Shouldn’t he take care of me for a couple of days?”
He looked at Lin Chi again. “You’re just a little waiter. I’m only asking you to accompany me to the hospital. Don’t push your luck. Even if I asked you to stay at my house for a week, it wouldn’t be too much.”
He was genuinely unhappy. Recently, his business had taken a hit, and at forty, he was being overshadowed by his younger brother, with no outlet for his frustration. Seeing Lin Chi’s aggrieved look gave him a sense of satisfaction.
“Try arguing with me again. See if I can’t deal with you.”
Lin Chi gritted his teeth.
He was about to explode with frustration, wanting to punch the man in front of him.
But he couldn’t.
The situation was beyond his control. As a powerless worker, he couldn’t afford to offend the club’s customers.
Especially seeing the manager bowing for his sake, he couldn’t act rashly and drag others down.
He glanced at the skinny man, corrupted by vice, then at the manager still negotiating on his behalf, and thought maybe he should just agree for now and look for an opportunity to escape once they left the club.
He was ready to grab the manager’s sleeve and speak, but footsteps sounded from behind.
A cold voice came from the side, “What’s going on here?”
Lin Chi straightened up instinctively and looked back.
Under the hotel’s crystal chandelier, the floor shimmered like water. Li Tingyan had come out of a private room and stood beside him, seemingly by chance.
He appeared to be an ordinary guest passing by, slightly annoyed by the commotion, his face calm but with a hint of scrutiny when he looked at the skinny man. Those dining with Li Tingyan also stopped, and one of them who knew the skinny man smiled, “Lao Huang, what are you doing here?”
The skinny man didn’t know Li Tingyan but, seeing others being respectful, could guess Li Tingyan’s unusual status. Embarrassed by the public questioning, he mumbled without giving a clear answer.
The manager quickly explained, “It’s our service failure. The waiter slipped while supporting Mr. Huang, causing him to fall. We’re apologizing to Mr. Huang, offering to accompany him to the hospital for a check-up, and covering all costs. To show our apology, we’ve waived all his charges for tonight and given him a black card. Although this may not fully compensate for the scare, it’s a token of our sincerity.”
Everyone present was shrewd.
They had already guessed that Mr. Huang was just using alcohol as an excuse to harass the handsome waiter.
Such things were rare here. Most people, despite their status, wouldn’t publicly bother a waiter. Even if they fancied someone, there were more discreet ways. Hence, they looked down on this behavior.
But as it didn’t concern them, no one intended to intervene.
They were puzzled why Li Tingyan had stopped.
Li Tingyan didn’t leave but instead told the manager, “Occasional mistakes are understandable in work.” He then turned to Mr. Huang and asked, “Mr. Huang, don’t you think so?”
The skinny man’s face turned sour.
Unable to gauge Li Tingyan’s status, he knew he couldn’t afford to offend him but felt it would be a loss of face to agree, so he stayed silent.
Those with Li Tingyan quickly smoothed things over, especially the one who knew Mr. Huang, saying, “Lao Huang, why bicker with kids? These waiters are always clumsy, not worth getting angry over.”
“Exactly, don’t bother with the kids.”
The skinny man’s face finally improved, and he started chatting with them.
Li Tingyan ignored their hypocritical exchanges, glancing lightly at Lin Chi, and said, “This has nothing to do with you anymore. Leave.”
Lin Chi was stunned, meeting Li Tingyan’s gaze. The manager nudged his arm, and he quickly slipped away.
Entering the corridor, he glanced back.
Li Tingyan stood among the crowd, still the most outstanding one under the crystal chandelier, a soft glow enveloping him.