The study was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The two bodyguards exchanged glances, their expressions showing that they were utterly bewildered, as if they had seen a ghost. They both turned to look at Min Yang.
Min Yang, however, didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable. The fierce wolf had put away its claws and now resembled a pitiful little puppy wagging its tail.
Tang Zhe lightly touched Min Yang’s brow, then asked, “Where… is he?”
At first, Min Yang didn’t understand, but then he realized Tang Zhe was asking about the “friend” who had betrayed him. For once, Min Yang’s thoughts aligned with Tang Zhe’s, and his eyes lit up instantly, “Are you going to help me beat him up, wife?”
The little stutterer put on a serious face and nodded earnestly, “Mm!”
Min Yang’s mood improved, but then he sighed with a bit of regret, “Too bad.”
“He’s still recovering, not really in a state to be beaten up right now.”
Earlier, when Min Yang dealt with the “friend,” he had avoided the vital spots, but it was still a beating that would keep him bedridden for at least two or three months.
True to the saying “birds of a feather flock together,” Tang Zhe seemed a bit disappointed too. He lowered his gaze in thought before saying, “Then when… when he’s recovered, I’ll… beat him up.”
Min Yang beamed, “Deal!”
Meanwhile, the “friend,” who still had bandages on his legs and arms, had been hospitalized for two months and had just started physical therapy: Achoo!
The bodyguards and assistant, who had heard the whole conversation: Trembling…
Min Yang was still running a fever, so there was no way Tang Zhe was going to let him stay up any longer. After making sure Min Yang took his medicine, Tang Zhe led him back to the bedroom.
Of course, it was Min Yang’s bedroom.
“It’s… time to sleep,” Tang Zhe said, closing the window and turning on the small nightlight by the bed. “If you feel… feel uncomfortable in the middle of the night, just… just call—”
Tang Zhe stumbled over his words, pausing before continuing, “Just… call the butler.”
After saying that, Tang Zhe carefully tucked Min Yang in, then turned to leave.
Min Yang frowned and sat up in bed, “Where are you going?”
Tang Zhe turned back, his gaze steady, “I’m going back… back to my own room.”
Min Yang asked, “You’re not going to stay with me?”
Tang Zhe didn’t answer right away, lowering his head as if deep in thought. After a long pause, he spoke, changing the subject.
Tang Zhe smiled faintly, “It’s late… you should rest.”
The sense of panic Min Yang had been trying to suppress surged back. Ignoring the dizziness from his fever, he tried to get out of bed.
“Tang Tang,” Min Yang called out, and when Tang Zhe kept walking, he added, “Wife…”
Tang Zhe finally sighed and turned to look at Min Yang, speaking seriously for once, “Min Yang.”
Tang Zhe rarely used Min Yang’s full name; sometimes, he would call him “sir,” other times, he would use his surname.
But hearing his full name from Tang Zhe’s lips, the usually unflappable alpha felt utterly panicked, so much so that he could hardly speak.
Tang Zhe had been thinking a lot earlier.
There was no doubt that Min Yang was strong. A powerful alpha didn’t need anyone’s protection, though… if Min Yang needed it, Tang Zhe would certainly step up without hesitation.
But what if Min Yang didn’t need it?
Min Yang wasn’t afraid of the dark, nor of thunderstorms, and he could take care of himself just fine.
Tang Zhe suddenly thought that if he hadn’t followed Min Yang to the company that day, Min Yang probably could have handled all the trouble his brother caused on his own. Maybe he would have done an even better job.
Maybe to Min Yang, Tang Zhe’s protection was nothing more than misplaced affection.
Thinking about this, Tang Zhe felt a pang of sadness.
“Min Yang…” Tang Zhe took a deep breath before asking, “You… you probably don’t need… need me anymore, do you?”
“The cold… cold medicine is on the nightstand. If you… you feel really bad, Zhou… Brother Zhou is downstairs.”
Tang Zhe looked down, staring at his shoes.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over him. The tall alpha had silently moved closer. Min Yang lowered his head, his voice uncharacteristically rough, “…So what?”
“Are you going to leave?”
Min Yang accused, “Tang Zhe, you’re lying.”
You said you would protect me.
Tang Zhe retorted, “You… you were the one who… who didn’t need me—”
“I never said I didn’t need you.” Min Yang interrupted.
“Hm?” Tang Zhe looked up in confusion, and the next moment, he was suddenly pulled into a strong embrace.
“I need you,” Min Yang repeated, this time with gravity.
They had hugged before, but when the alpha’s warm breath brushed against Tang Zhe’s neck, Tang Zhe flinched, instinctively trying to push him away.
But Min Yang only tightened his grip, glancing outside before an idea struck him. Seizing the moment, he said, “It’s so dark outside.”
“…I’m all alone.”
The soft tone didn’t come naturally, sounding a bit awkward. Min Yang coughed and added, “Cough—I’m scared.”
In his words, Min Yang seemed to forget that just moments ago, he was the same alpha who had lifted two bodyguards by their collars, threatening to feed them to sharks, almost bringing the whole room to its knees.
The alpha even “accidentally” brushed his brow where the scar had long since healed. He let out a soft “hiss,” and when Tang Zhe looked over, the Min Yang family alpha lowered his gaze, muttering to himself, “The wound still hurts…”
A hint of struggle flashed in Tang Zhe’s eyes.
As Tang Zhe hesitated, Min Yang looked up again, “understanding” as he let go of Tang Zhe, pretending to be strong.
“It’s just a little discomfort, after all.”
Min Yang said as he “thoughtfully” released Tang Zhe from his embrace, pretending to be strong:
“It’s just a fever, dizziness, a recurring wound, and insomnia…”
Be my Patron ~ Buy me Ko-Fi
✨Be a part of the story – support my translations✨
✨Buy me some Ko-FI | Paypal to support my effort✨
✨✨Advance chapter at Patreon✨✨
