Regarding the “original” world, Zhu Tong originally had no intention of knowing how it went.
Pain was also a kind of tempering. If what the system said was true, that he could become an outstanding person, then even without that memory, he could still achieve it.
However, as more and more world lines converged, he didn’t pursue it, but the memories came back on their own.
—in the form of dreams.
The first time Zhu Tong saw Shao Ming was on a cruise ship. He was attending a friend’s birthday party.
But he had heard of this person before.
He studied at Q University and had always heard people talk about a genius in the Computer Science department who entered the school with the highest scores, participated in many international competitions in his first year, and brought honor to the school.
He even started his own game company and had gained some fame during his four years in college. By the time he graduated, the company successfully went public, setting a record as one of the earliest entrepreneurial ventures from Q University students.
“…He graduated from Q University. Ge, haven’t you seen him before?” It was Xiao Xin who noticed Shao Ming on the cruise ship.
Unfortunately, during his four years in college, Zhu Tong was busy with studies, internships, and his grandfather’s intentional cultivation, so he never had the chance to meet that rumored genius. He didn’t expect to meet him abroad after graduating from college.
Most of those who boarded the cruise ship that day had extraordinary backgrounds and had heard of Shao Ming. However, opinions about him varied.
Some admired him, some were indifferent.
And there was one idiot who, relying on his family’s wealth and status, openly confessed his love to Shao Ming on the cruise ship, asking Shao Ming to be his boyfriend.
That idiot’s name was Qian Xiao1钱骁; 钱 = money; 骁 = valiant, and he was as arrogant as his name implied.
Qian Xiao was a famous dandy in the upper-class circle, dressing flamboyantly, bold in his actions, and unrestrained in his lifestyle.
While he claimed to confess his love, his real aim was to keep Shao Ming as a sugar baby. Doing so openly in front of so many people was clearly intended to humiliate.
Zhu Tong was originally just one of the onlookers on the cruise ship, but Shao Ming’s reaction surprised him.
“Qian-zong, you like me? Unfortunately, your liking for me will go unrequited. I neither wish to end up in ruin by following you, nor do I desire to lose limbs after being with you. As far as I know, those who have caught your eye have not had a good ending. It seems you bring ill fate with you. If you need a master to perform rituals, I can help with that.”
Despite the humiliation, Shao Ming smiled and faced a crowd ready to mock him, showing no signs of fear.
The guests on the cruise ship knew the kind of person Qian Xiao was, but no one would speak out so openly.
Those from less prominent families dared not, those from comparable backgrounds were unwilling, and those who could match the Qian family’s status looked down on such behavior.
For Shao Ming to say such things was tantamount to completely offending Qian Xiao.
Where did he get such confidence?
Zhu Tong couldn’t help but wonder, but then Xiao Xin, who was holding his arm, said, “Qian Xiao is tired of living, isn’t he?”
Zhu Tong didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”
Xiao Xin explained, “Ge, you don’t know? The last person who pursued Shao Ming so publicly ended up bankrupt. Oh wait, you know him, it’s the Xia Conglomerate, Xia Weiyi’s son. You’ve met him.”
“……”
Zhu Tong asked, “How do you know that Xia Conglomerate’s bankruptcy was caused by him?”
Zhu Xin bluntly replied, “When I went to our cousin’s2it’s biao ge, so it’s Cheng Chen company to find him, I heard him talking about it with someone else.”
Zhu Tong said, “…”
Frustrated after his attempt to humiliate backfired, Qian Xiao turned angrily towards Shao Ming and spoke harshly, “It’s your honor that I fancy you. Who doesn’t know that Shangming Technology went public? How many connections did you use, how many people did you sleep with behind the scenes to achieve your current success? Now you’re acting all high and mighty in front of me, giving you face, huh? Just because you started a small game company, you think highly of yourself? With your pathetic company, I could make it bankrupt easier than crushing an ant.”
“Oh, really?”
A light, airy voice interrupted Qian Xiao’s smug tirade.
Everyone turned to the source of the voice.
Zhu Xin exclaimed in surprise, “Ge, what are you doing?”
Zhu Tong said, “I’m just curious. Since you find it so easy to bankrupt a company, why didn’t you wait for it to go bankrupt before pursuing him?”
Qian Xiao: “…”
Was someone really taking such a casually spoken threat seriously?
Recognizing who spoke, Qian Xiao froze.
Zhu Tong — even without considering his relationship with Cheng Qingsong — was not someone Qian Xiao could afford to provoke with his current status.
Among those present, those with some status called him “Young Master Tong,” while those who don’t called him “Zhu-zong”.
Qian Xiao’s face turned pale instantly.
After a tense moment, the owner of the cruise ship arrived, and after understanding the situation, acted as a mediator.
With Zhu Tong present, Qian Xiao dared not escalate the situation any further even though he had been embarrassed.
The birthday celebrant on the cruise ship initially invited Shao Ming to the gathering because he admired his abilities and wanted to acquire his company and win him over. Hearing that Zhu Tong had stood up for him, he tentatively asked, “Young Master Tong, did you and Shao-zong already know each other?”
Shao Ming, relaxed and enjoying the spectacle, looked at Zhu Tong with interest upon hearing this.
While Zhu Tong had indeed interfered where he shouldn’t have, driven by his principle of helping others to the end, he thought of a relationship that would seem as close as possible and replied with a slight smile, “He’s my school junior.”
Zhu Tong, without illness, started school a year earlier than Shao Ming.
Upon hearing his introduction, Shao Ming’s interest deepened, and he played along, saying, “Yes, he’s my school senior.”
The birthday celebrant was indeed surprised and looked at Shao Ming with a more scrutinizing gaze.
After disembarking from the cruise ship, Zhu Tong thought Qian Xiao would learn his lesson and tone down his foolishness. Instead, just as he was about to board the car, he heard that Qian Xiao had gathered a group of people intending to severely harm Shao Ming.
Hastening over, Zhu Tong only saw one person holding a wooden stick on the dock, surrounded by motionless bodies strewn about.
Zhu Tong: “…”
He had worried for nothing.
He didn’t get out of the car either. Through the car window, the two locked eyes briefly before he instructed the driver to drive away.
Thinking they wouldn’t have another chance to meet, the next day, while having breakfast at the hotel buffet, Shao Ming casually sat down opposite him.
Dressed casually instead of in formal attire, Shao Ming looked like a professional on the cruise ship, appearing once again in front of Zhu Tong, now resembling a young university student.
Zhu Tong asked calmly, “What are you doing here?”
Shao Ming rested his head on his hand and replied, “Senior helped me out of a tight spot yesterday, so I’ve come to thank you.”
“…”
As soon as he called him ‘senior’, Zhu Tong understood. Shao Ming was here to solidify their “senior-junior” relationship.
Zhu Tong cut to the chase, “Are you using me as a shield?”
Shao Ming said, “No, I’m asserting my status.”
Zhu Tong: “…”
He was quite straightforward.
Zhu Tong chuckled, “Should I praise you for being so resourceful?”
Shao Ming didn’t argue, calmly saying, “A businessman should seize every opportunity available.”
Zhu Tong asked, “What if I’m not willing to give you that opportunity?”
Shao Ming smiled and replied, “Then I’d be very disappointed.”
“…”
Zhu Tong decided not to engage with him further.
What was this? Inviting trouble into his life?
He had said that line to Qian Xiao on the cruise ship out of goodwill, and now this person was sticking to him like gum?
Zhu Tong focused on his meal, deciding that as long as things didn’t get too out of hand, he would endure this one time and avoid him in the future.
Across the table, Shao Ming noticed Zhu Tong’s lack of enthusiasm towards him, his eyes flickering slightly. Suddenly, he asked seriously, “Why did you help me on the cruise ship yesterday?”
Zhu Tong: “?”
He helped because he helped. Was there more to it?
Shao Ming continued, “Aren’t you afraid that I might actually be the kind of person Qian Xiao described?”
Zhu Tong wasn’t used to talking while eating. He carefully swallowed his food, set down his utensils, and said, “I didn’t really help you with anything, I just spoke the truth.”
Indeed, he was just curious and had exposed Qian Xiao’s exaggerations.
After a moment’s thought, he added, “Although I haven’t met you at school, I’ve heard a lot about you. People around me, including my teachers and school leaders, hold you in high regard. I don’t believe a capable person needs to resort to those underhanded methods to run a company, and I also don’t believe what Qian Xiao said.”
Shao Ming raised an eyebrow, “Is that all?”
Zhu Tong replied, “What more is needed? If I must say more, it’s just that Qian Xiao rubs me the wrong way.”
Suddenly, Shao Ming smiled and said, “No, really, thank you.”
——-
After their meeting at the hotel, Zhu Tong didn’t see Shao Ming again until returning to China.
About a month later, he learned from his grandfather that Qian Xiao’s family company had encountered a major economic crisis.
It was too coincidental. After investigating, as Zhu Tong suspected, Shao Ming had indeed played a role in Qian Xiao’s downfall.
This overturned his previous speculations.
He had thought that when Shao Ming came to find him at the hotel that day, it was just to use his identity for self-promotion.
But since Shao Ming had easily caused trouble for Qian’s family, he had no need to leverage Zhu Tong’s identity.
So, what was Shao Ming’s purpose that day at the hotel?
When Zhu Tong was puzzled, Shao Ming came knocking as a potential collaborator.
That was the beginning of their formal acquaintance, and also the beginning of their relationship.
From collaborators, to friends, to mutual attraction… to lovers.
Shao Ming appeared to only run a game company on the surface, but facing challenges from peers, he had a myriad of tricks up his sleeve. Zhu Tong didn’t know how many hidden talents Shao Ming possessed.
Seemingly intentionally, Shao Ming gradually revealed his unknown sides to Zhu Tong. By the time Zhu Tong realized how deeply he was involved, Shao Ming had already openly integrated into his life.
In life, without the inexplicable illness, Zhu Tong had fewer taboos than before, but there were still many considerations.
He never spoke of it, and Shao Ming never asked, but they both kept the details of their lives in their hearts, inadvertently touching each other deeply.
In the original world, their relationship was a gradual and equal encounter, drop by drop like water finding its course.
Upon waking from the dream, the final overlap with reality… was Shao Ming’s mischievous hands on him.
Zhu Tong turned his head and met Shao Ming’s bright, smiling eyes.
Little Young Master Zhu couldn’t help but smile wryly.
—His back was sore.
Yesterday was the weekend, and amidst work, they finally managed to find some time to rest together. However, one person lost control momentarily and couldn’t restrain themselves.
Zhu Tong blinked, his eyes were slightly red, and there were traces of moisture on his eyelashes.
Shao Ming kissed his forehead gently and asked, “Were you dreaming?”
Zhu Tong was slightly surprised, “How did you know?”
Shao Ming chuckled softly, “Because you called my name.”
Zhu Tong’s face instantly fell.
He grabbed a pillow and covered his face with it.
Shao Ming took the pillow away, slipped under it himself, and then placed it behind his own head.
The room’s light was blocked, the view darkened, and the suddenly narrowed space seemed more conducive to the fermentation of ambiguous factors. Their breaths intertwined, and Shao Ming asked, “What are you hiding from?”
Zhu Tong covered his eyes with the back of his hand, “Can we not talk about this?”
Shao Ming knowingly asked, “Talk about what?”
It all started three days ago when Cheng Chen, Zhu Tong’s cousin, bored at home and playing on his phone, came across a recording. Excitedly, he messaged Shao Ming.
<Young Master Cheng Loves Playing the Fool>: Younger Brother-in-law3specifically 弟婿 di xu. I honestly don’t know what kind of brother-in-law it specifies, but judging from the female radical (女) on the 婿, it’s probably referring to your female relative’s husband. 弟 just mean younger brother, forgot to give you something good.
Ignoring the title, the document Cheng Chen sent to Shao Ming was precisely the snippet of Zhu Tong’s mumbling while unconscious in the hospital that day.
At the time, Zhu Tong was disturbed by the sudden surge of affection, calling Shao Ming’s name in his dreams.
With no context, just that recording alone, one could imagine what Shao Ming felt upon hearing it.
That was also one of the reasons why Shao Ming lost control last night… taking into account the events of the past three days.
Zhu Tong explained, “That recording… it’s not what you think.”
Shao Ming asked, “Then what is it?”
Zhu Tong hesitated. He couldn’t possibly say it was a decrease in favorability level that had him preoccupied, could he?
They had finally turned a page on that matter. Bringing it up again now would be rather insensitive.
However, Shao Ming wouldn’t let it go and gave him two options, “When you call my name in such a situation, either you’re blaming me, or you love me. Which one are you?”
Knowing he couldn’t avoid it any longer, Zhu Tong lowered his arm and looked at Shao Ming, saying, “I said I wouldn’t bring this up again. Can we leave it at that?”
Shao Ming nodded decisively, “Okay.”
After a pause, Zhu Tong added, “Both.”
“……”
“Actually, I don’t blame you.” Zhu Tong glanced away. “Back then, I just didn’t understand. They say you dream about what occupies your thoughts during the day, right? I was thinking about you before I fell unconscious, so afterwards…”
I kept calling out Shao Ming’s name.
Shao Ming buried his head, biting gently at Zhu Tong’s neck. “It’s okay to blame me.”
“No,” Zhu Tong immediately denied. “You didn’t know…”
Zhu Tong paused, feeling like he’d already said this before. Emotions couldn’t be fixed with words.
He sighed, cupping Shao Ming’s face and giving him a kiss. “I don’t blame you. I love you.”
Shao Ming’s eyes darkened, leaning down to kiss him.
After parting, Shao Ming asked, “So, what did you dream about just now?”
Zhu Tong hesitated slightly. “I… really talked in my sleep?”
Shao Ming couldn’t help but smile. “Mm-hmm, you did.”
“…”
After a silent moment, Shao Ming lowered his head and whispered in Zhu Tong’s ear, “You called out so clearly, your voice soft and gentle. I almost couldn’t resist.”
Zhu Tong: “…”
Even after all this time together, hearing Shao Ming speak so openly still made Zhu Tong’s cheeks flush.
But thinking about what he saw in the dream, Zhu Tong chuckled. “Do you really want to know?”
Shao Ming leaned down to nibble his ear, teasing him for keeping him in suspense.
Unable to resist, Zhu Tong quickly confessed, “I dreamt about the world before the system appeared.”
Shao Ming asked, “What was it like?”
Zhu Tong recalled. The dream’s content felt unreal, yet he remembered it vividly even now.
What he remembered most clearly was Shao Ming being a grade junior to him, and during their time working together, both showing him great respect.
In the new world, Shao Ming was in the same grade as him. Furthermore, he was two months older, and always reliable, never showing any immaturity.
A change in how they addressed each other led to a completely different experience.
Zhu Tong suddenly looked straight at Shao Ming, hesitating with unspoken words. “You…”
Shao Ming understood immediately, “You want me to call you like I did in your dream?”
Zhu Tong’s face quickly flushed red, not denying it.
“Sure,” Shao Ming agreed readily, then leaned close to his ear and asked, “But what should you call me?”
Zhu Tong hesitated, unsure. What should he call him? Junior?
He tentatively suggested, “Shao Ming?”
Shao Ming paused, then reminded him, “If we’re married, how would you address me?”
Zhu Tong realized his limited perspective. “Uh…”
Shao Ming prompted him impatiently, “Hmm? Senior?”
The term echoed in Zhu Tong’s mind as Shao Ming whispered it in his ear.
Feeling flustered and confused, Zhu Tong didn’t know how to respond.
Shao Ming lifted his leg, teasing, “If you don’t say it, I’m going to fuck you now.”
Zhu Tong: “…”
This rascal!
Whether he eventually said it or not, they definitely had a sleepless night.
On Valentine’s Day, Zhu Tong, accompanied by his younger sister, retrieved two custom-made rings that had been prepared early in the day. On their way back, Zhu Xin looked at him in disbelief and said, “You’ve been together for over three years, and you’ve never once given Saozi4嫂子; sister-in-law. Your older brother’s wife. a gift?”
Zhu Tong: “…”
He felt deeply ashamed. He genuinely didn’t know what to give Shao Ming – he seemed to lack nothing.
“But it’s fine,” Zhu Xin continued. “The first gift you give him is an engagement ring. That’s quite impressive, a surprise after all this time.”
Zhu Tong: “…”
But he didn’t feel comforted.
Looking down at the ring box in his hand, Zhu Tong felt both nervous and hopeful.
He had already discussed proposing with his grandfather, who seemed even more excited than him. Since his identity had been publicly revealed at the graduation banquet, his grandfather hadn’t missed any opportunity to accompany him in public. Upon hearing about the proposal, his grandfather had already started arranging the wedding venue.
As Zhu Xin put it: if either of them were a girl, his grandfather would be eagerly anticipating grandchildren by now.
However, his grandfather’s support gave Zhu Tong courage and confidence.
It was just the two of them at the candlelit dinner, with the engagement rings ready since early morning.
No outsiders were involved, just the two of them.
The proposal scene was set by Zhu Tong, under the guise of celebrating Valentine’s Day.
The atmosphere was thick, the timing perfect. In the flickering candlelight, Zhu Tong stood up. “I have a gift for you.”
Shao Ming also stood up. “I have a gift for you too…”
Two boxes of different colors, containing different styles of rings, glimmered with the same radiant golden light in the flames of the candles.
On either side of the candle flames, two figures in formal attire faced each other, frozen like statues.
Zhu Tong numbly thought to himself, ‘This was why I don’t know what to give Shao Ming.’
Because whatever he wanted to give, Shao Ming always seemed to give it to him first.
In the end, he didn’t know whose ring box closed first. Startled by the crisp sound, Zhu Tong was pulled into Shao Ming’s embrace, his breath caught, his lips and tongue overwhelmed with excitement as they passionately intertwined.
When they finally caught their breath, Shao Ming held him tightly and said, “You’re the best gift I could ever receive.”
-end of story-
T/L: this is the end of Shao Ming and Zhu Tong’s story! Next will be the side story of Lu Zheyu/Cheng Chen. Hope you will enjoy it then~
