Chapter 31

This time, Tong Yantested first in the grade. Sunday evening, when he went to school to review thetest papers, he had already accepted his classmates’ congratulations, and whenthey met again on Monday morning, everyone still greeted him with a smile.

Last time, he won secondplace, losing to a student in the neighboring class by one point. It’d felt likethe students in his class were more disappointed than Tong Yan, one afteranother expressing their regrets to him. This time, he was in the lead by 15points, and everyone was collectively excited, feeling that this “win” wastheir own.

Chai ManMan alsodid well on the test. Eighteenth in the class and twenty-fifth in the grade.When they analyzed the results in class, the homeroom teacher specifically praisedthe two desk-mates.

After class, Chai ManManwanted to invite Tong Yan to the school cafeteria for dinner, but Tong Yan wasa day student, and Zhuo Xiang Ming would definitely pick him up on time. So, onthe way home from school, Tong Yan carried five boxes of banana milk in his schoolbag.

”Why is thisso heavy?” Helping Tong Yan carry his schoolbag had already become Zhuo XiangMing’s habit.

While he leanedover to fasten Tong Yan’s seat belt, Tong Yan conveniently hugged his neck:“Thank you gifts from my classmate.”

”Huh?”Zhuo Xiang Ming rested his hand on Tong Yan’s waist, letting him hug him, not pullingback for the time being. He asked, “Which classmate, thanks for what?”

Tong Yan tilted hishead: “Chai ManMan, and of course, it’s appreciation for me being selflessand helpful, the roses in her hand, the flavor in mine.”

”You should’veused such eloquence when writing your essay.” Zhuo Xiang Ming bumpedforeheads with him.

The “flavor in mine”classmate Tong Yan, didn’t technically score lower in other subjects, but healways couldn’t complete the Chinese language tests. Looking into the details, thereason was very easy to find out, for the most part, the reason was that hestruggled to write 800 cursive characters in his essays.

Tong Yan releasedZhuo Xiang Ming, pushing his shoulder away with one hand, and rubbing his facewith the other, refusing to continue this topic: “Let’s go home.”

They were plagued bythe usual traffic jams, and endless red lights, one after the other. Tong Yaneventually grew bored and leaned on the center console, watching Zhuo XiangMing.

He usually woreblack shirts, but today, he wore a white shirt. It still looked good, but it feltvery different.

The weather wasslowly getting colder, and the sun set more and more earlier. Currently, the citystreet lights were already on, the bright lights and the faint sunset on thehorizon constituted the unique dusk of late autumn Jiangdu. When not looking atTong Yan, Zhuo Xiang Ming had no expression on his face as usual. From theside, Tong Yan could see a profound silhouette, with a cold handsomeness.

He was focusing on theroad ahead, the hair that Tong Yan had helped style before leaving home thatmorning was still intact. Tong Yan was confident that he hadn’t rested duringthe day.

Zhuo Xiang Ming wasn’taware that he was being stared at by a love-struck Tong Yan. When the red lightwas about to end, he raised his hand, straightening his tie. His knuckles wereclear, and his cuffs were open, exposing half of his wrist watch and his wristbones, covered by a thin layer of skin, inexplicably sexy. Then he coughedlightly, his Adam’s apple rolling up and down, and Tong Yan changed his lyingposition, facing the car window, not looking at him anymore.

Tong Yan admittedthat he was seduced enough, but he didn’t expect tohear the sound of the door locking as soon as he entered the house. The scent ofcedarwood drew near, and he was hugged from behind.

Zhuo Xiang Ming hadhung his schoolbag on his arm, blocking him in as he hugged him tightly. He broughthis other hand to his face, lowering his head to kiss him lightly. Leaving hismouth, Zhuo Xiang Ming’s kisses fell again, one by one, on the tip of Tong Yan’snose and his eyelids.

However, this time,Zhuo Xiang Ming didn’t entangle him for too long. After demanding some benefits,he soon let go, walking ahead with a composed expression.

After dinner, thetwo went into the study together, one to do homework, and the other to continueworking.

Recently, Zhuo XiangMing was much busier than before. He not only had to handle his own affairs, healso started helping out Lin Yue Hua’s side. But because he insisted on not joiningthe Zhuo family’s business, the many things he needed to do required complicatedprocedures, so it took more effort and time.

When Tong Yanfinished his homework, Zhuo Xiang Ming was still sitting behind the officedesk. The screen in front of him hadn’t changed for a long time. He was mainlylooking at statistics reports. Tong Yan knew a little about it, and he knew evenmore that he was working hard. Not wanting to disturb Zhuo Xiang Ming, hepicked up his schoolbag and quietly moved to the door.

”Are you donewith your homework?” As soon as his hand touched the doorknob, Zhuo XiangMing suddenly asked.

Tong Yan stopped andturned around: “Yeah, I’m done.”

”What are you doinglater?”

After thinkingabout it, Tong Yan said: “Building the Taj Mahal.”

Zhuo Xiang Ming leanedback in his office chair, a document still in his hand: “Come here.”

Tong Yan walkedover: “Do you need my help?”

Zhuo Xiang Ming:“Yes.”

Tong Yan really hadn’texpected it to be true: “With what?”

Zhuo Xiang Mingreached out and pulled him into his arms: “Hug me.”

At the start, TongYan was a bit stiff, but Zhuo Xiang Ming really was just hugging him, he didn’tdo anything else, looking very tired. Tong Yan slowly relaxed, leaning againstZhuo Xiang Ming, he hugged him obediently.

”Are youtired?” Tong Yan asked after a while.

Zhuo Xiang Minghummed, bowing his head to look at him: “I’m very tired. I have a headacheand sore shoulders.”

His facial expressionwas still indifferent, but somehow, it made Tong Yan feel that he was verypitiful. Helpless to help, he said distressedly: “Rest for a while, you canwork later.”

”No, it has tobe finished today.” Zhuo Xiang Ming said.

”Um …” TongYan said, “Then what can I do?”

Zhuo Xiang Ming:“Go build your Lego, I’ll just be here by myself, working.”

This time, Tong Yanwas finally certain: “Are you pretending to be pitiful?”

Zhuo Xiang Ming:“Am I not pitiful?”

”…”

Tong Yan resignedlyreached out to massage the space between his brows, then he kneaded hisshoulders for a while. Zhuo Xiang Ming closed his eyes, enjoying it. Finally,he couldn’t restrain a smile, and Tong Yan promptly stopped his movements,swatting him on the shoulder: “How dare you!”

Zhuo Xiang Mingopened his eyes and grabbed the hand Tong Yan was pulling away, a smile still onhis face: “I wasn’t lying to you, I’m really very tired.”

”I’m ignoringyou.” Tong Yan said.

He pulled back hishand, hiding it behind his back, striving to act offended. Blushing, he pulledout from Zhuo Xiang Ming’s embrace, grabbed his school bag, and left.

But half an hourlater, Tong Yan, bathed and changed into pajamas, returned to the study with abig box, his hair half-dried. He put the box down by the window and left again,pouring a glass of water for Zhuo Xiang Ming.

Putting down the glass,Tong Yan didn’t immediately leave again. Zhuo Xiang Ming took hold of his hand andasked: “Are you keeping me company?”

It wasn’t long sincehe’d come out of the bathroom, his face was steamed red, and his eyes were darkand shiny. Tong Yan’s fingers fidgeted in Zhuo Xiang Ming’s palm as he said,“I’ll get more inspiration here.”

”Oh.”Zhuo Xiang Ming nodded and asked, “Then, will you still massage myshoulders later?”

Tong Yan bowed his head,looking at him with two round eyes, as if he was glaring, but also as if he wasacting flirtatiously. After a while, he said, “I’ll massage you after youfinish your work.”

At eleven o’clock,Zhuo Xiang Ming stopped working. Tong Yan had already stopped building Lego along time ago, and was now leaning drowsily against the glass window.

Zhuo Xiang Ming hadnot yet organized the messy documents, walking over lightly, he crouched besidehim, and touched his face: “Tong Tong, go to bed.”

”Uh-huh.”Tong Yan was originally half asleep, and quickly agreed confusedly, “Areyou done?”

”Not yet, I’llreassess it tomorrow.” Zhuo Xiang Ming didn’t wait for him to get up,directly lifting him up, “It’s very late, I wasn’t looking at the time.”

It wasn’t the firsttime Tong Yan was carried. He only stared blankly for a moment, then he quicklystretched out his arms to embrace Zhuo Xiang Ming. With his eyes closed, hesaid, “You’re very late.”

He very rarely stayedup late, and he had a habit of sleeping at ten o’clock, so now, he was reallysleepy.

Zhuo Xiang Mingdidn’t turn on the lights, he opened the door and went in, putting Tong Yan downon the bed, then he covered him with a quilt.

But he couldn’tleave immediately–Tong Yan was completely awake now, and was hugging him, unwillingto let go. He pressed down on the back of his neck, pulling Zhuo Xiang Ming towardshim, affectionately rubbing his face against him.

Zhuo Xiang Mingsupported himself on the bed with one hand, the other hand on Tong Yan’s face,letting him finish his cuddling, he whispered, “Behave, go to sleep.”

”I’ll massageyour shoulders.” Saying this, Tong Yan kneaded his shoulders a few times,but because of his sleepiness, his two hands were weak, and the massage couldbarely be felt.

The room was fullof Tong Yan’s pheromones, it was originally a very light fragrance, but it wasquite enticing for Zhuo Xiang Ming, he couldn’t move a step.

Zhuo Xiang Ming gatheredTong Yan into his arms, quilt and all, and repeatedly kissed his ear, his voiceextremely low: “Baby.”

Tong Yan alsowanted to hug him for a while, but he felt timid, and eventually, he let go. Helistened as Zhuo Xiang Ming said good night and left, closing the door behindhim.

After two days of intimatelygetting along, on Wednesday morning, after breakfast, Tong Yan was getting readyto leave for school as usual, but Zhuo Xiang Ming wasn’t moving, saying to him,“Tong Tong, I have something to tell you.”

Tong Yan:“Okay, what is it?”

Zhuo Xiang Ming:“I have to leave on a business trip today. My flight is at 6 pm, there’snot enough time to pick you up from school. So tonight, you should eitherreturn to your dad’s house or have someone bring you to my mother.”

Tong Yan kept hishold on the back of the dining chair for a long moment, before saying,“Oh, okay.”

Zhuo Xiang Mingobserved his expression and asked, “Where do you want to go?”

Tong Yan: “I’llthink about it.”

”OK.”Zhuo Xiang Ming got up, “Tell me on the way.”

But on their way tothe school, Tong Yan was silent. He only asked Zhuo Xiang Ming how long he wouldbe gone, and Zhuo Xiang Ming said at least three days, at most five, but afterthat, he didn’t ask anything else.

Tong Yan didn’tspeak, and Zhuo Xiang Ming also joined in the silence.

Parting at thistime wasn’t easy for Zhuo Xiang Ming.

His desire to monopolizeand protect Tong Yan was so heavy that he found it excessive, and he wasn’t willingto give him to anyone. Not only was he worried about Tong Yan’s well-being, healso kept thinking about his sweet kisses and coquettishness. He was alwaysthinking about Tong Yan, repeatedly switching back and forth between the rolesof an elder and a lover, irrationally thinking that every kind of care shouldbe given to him.

He knew that TongYan would be a bit uncomfortable, but because he knew that Tong Yan had an openand playful personality, and his attention was easily distracted, he thought thata few days of separation would maybe pass quickly for Tong Yan.

He didn’t expectsuch a big reaction from Tong Yan.

Not smiling orspeaking, from someone like Tong Yan, this was a very big reaction.

The car pulled to astop at the school gate, Zhuo Xiang Ming grabbed the schoolbag from the backseat, and Tong Yan finally opened his mouth to say, “I’ll miss you.”

Outside, the cars ofteachers and parents were coming and going, so Tong Yan only grabbed Zhuo XiangMing’s cuff and said, dejected, “What can I do about missing you?”

He looked at Zhuo XiangMing, reluctance to part filling his eyes, as he spoke, his eyes reddened slightly:“Why didn’t you tell me last night? I don’t want to go to schoolnow.”

Zhuo Xiang Mingtouched Tong Yan’s face with the back of his hand: “I was afraid you’d getupset if I told you last night.”

”I’m upset now.”Tong Yan promptly said.

He grabbed Zhuo XiangMing’s hand and pressed it closer to his face. After a while, he couldn’t holdback, demanding, “Kiss me.”

Zhuo Xiang Ming:“Now?”

Tong Yan looked slightlyirritated, frowning, “Why not?”

Zhuo Xiang Minghurriedly leaned forward, enveloping him with his body. Through the windshield,probably only Zhuo Xiang Ming’s back could be seen from outside.

Tong Yan respondedto the kiss with enthusiasm –he was now a lot more skillful at kissing, at thevery least, he wouldn’t bite lower lips and struggle to breathe. Zhuo XiangMing originally intended to kiss lightly, but Tong Yan’s sweet response drovehim deeper and deeper. At the end, Tong Yan laid limp in his arms, breathless, andhe firmly pressed Tong Yan’s shoulder.

”If I leavenow, it’ll be the last time we see each other today, right?”

Zhuo Xiang Ming gentlyrubbed his damp lips, saying in a low voice, “Yes.”

”Why are youso bad?” Tong Yan got angry again, but thinking of their inevitable partingin a few minutes, he hugged Zhuo Xiang Ming, reluctant to let go, “Zhuo XiangMing, I didn’t know you could be so bad.”

He plunged hishands into Zhuo Xiang Ming’s hair, sticking their faces together, as if henever planned to separate. He was still murmuring sweetly: “I’m beginning tothink that you don’t have a conscience. Was this deliberate? I really don’tlike you … can you kiss me again?”

Zhuo Xiang Ming’sheart softened under Tong Yan’s polishing, saying bittersweetly: “I can’t,you really won’t be able to go to school if I kiss you again.”

He felt that he reallywas a despicable man. Seeing Tong Yan so reluctant to part with him, he felt onlyhappiness and satisfaction in his heart. He kissed Tong Yan, fully aware thatthe boy was reluctant to part, but he still said, “Go, you’ll belate.”

In the end, theyseparated. Tong Yan walked towards the school, constantly glancing back. Chai ManMansaw that he wasn’t in a good mood, so after the morning study session began, sheasked in a low, concerned voice: “What’s wrong, are you sick?”

After thinkingabout how to word it, Tong Yan explained, writing in his notebook with a painfulexpression: “My husband left on a business trip, it might last five days.We’re starting a long-distance relationship.”

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T/N:

the roses in her hand, the flavorin mine- The belief that helping others willbenefit yourself as well.

cursive- Or, writing continuously without lifting your hand from the paper.Probably means something else when it’s done with Chinese characters.

Tong Yan admitted that he wasseduced enough- 童宴自认被勾引得够呛, I translated it grammatically correct, I think, but I’m not surewhat it means.