This week I’ll be subjecting myself with overtimes to ensure I can get my leave without worrying much of my work (I’m going to a con!). So, I’ll be off next week! See you on the 26th~
Whether it was Shao Ming or Zhu Tong, both knew that it was inevitable for him to go back to A City – after all, it was Zhu Tong’s home.
When Zhu Tong said he wanted to go to A City, he didn’t feel anything. But when Shao Ming specifically asked him about it, it made his heart ache. He could only nod and mumble a “Mn.”
“Really?” Shao Ming squeezed the glass in his hand and said casually, “When will you go there?”
Zhu Tong replied: “After the choir competition.”
That’s only a few days away.
Shao Ming pursed his lips and said nothing.
Was he feeling lost? It seemed so.
But he was more concerned about Zhu Tong’s physical wellbeing than the fact Zhu Tong was going to return to A City.
What kind of disease he had that made him have to undergo a monthly check-up?
It did worry him, but it had been more than a month since Zhu Tong had transferred here.
Shao Ming thought so, despite his heart saying otherwise.
Subconsciously, he rubbed the glass in his hand. Then, he brought it up to his lips, and took a sip.
“You…” Zhu Tong was slightly startled. “I just drank from there.”
Shao Ming returned to his senses. He glanced at the water cup in his hand, and then looked at the person sitting next to him. After a momentary stun, he calmly asked, “Um? Which side are you drinking from?”
Zhu Tong: “…”
The cup brought by Uncle Liu has a pattern on it. Although he didn’t deliberately remember which side, Zhi Tong still has some impression. He pointed to the side with a cartoon cloud printed on it and said, “This side.”
It was on the opposite side from when Shao Ming just drank.
‘Quite the pity.’
Shao Ming lowered his gaze and smiled, then raised his head and replied, “That’s fine, it’s not an indirect kiss.”
“…”
Seeing that the young master was slightly stunned, Shao Ming continued, “Do you dislike me?”
Zhu Tong was busy shaking his head. “No, I’m afraid… you will mind.”
Shao Ming asked again, “I don’t mind, what about you?”
Zhu Tong smiled. “You don’t mind drinking from a cup that I’ve already used, but you’re concerned about what I mind?”
“But this is your cup.”
“…”
Zhu Tong was choked again.
He paused, “It’s okay if it’s you who use it.”
Shao Ming: “…”
He felt his heart skip a beat.
Sure enough, it was still easy to gain an inch1getting a small advantage. His eyes darkened, and he asked, “What about the others?”
Zhu Tong: “Others? Who?”
Shao Ming said, “Anyone except me.”
Anyone except Shao Ming?
Zhu Tong thought about it.
The only people he feels close to are Xiao Xin, Grandpa, Auntie and her family. Now, there’s also Uncle Liu. But, those people wouldn’t touch the cup he used. As for other people besides them…
“I don’t know, no one has used my cup before except you.”
Shao Ming’s slightly curled into a smile. “So I am the first person to share a glass with you?”
Zhu Tong instinctively felt that this didn’t seem right. But after thinking about it carefully, there seemed to be nothing wrong. He hesitated as he said, “Yes…”
Before he finished speaking, his shoulders sank.
The pressure of the shoulder touch was already familiar to Zhu Tong, his body remained stable without swaying. However, unlike before, this time, Shao Ming not only leaned his shoulder but also brought his head closer, tilting it to meet Zhu Tong’s ear, with their heads pressed together.
“…”
A little heavy.
Just as Zhu Tong wanted to turn his head, he heard Shao Ming say, “Tell me when you go back, and I’ll see you off.”
Zhu Tong said, “No, I’m not going back, per se. I’ll just visit there for the check-up…”
“Then I’ll be reluctant to let go as well.”
“…”
Zhu Tong’s heartbeat intensified for a moment.
Feel reluctant to let him go… Shao Ming felt that way?
It turns out that he is not the only one who feels reluctant?
The flash of heartache he felt a moment ago disappeared instantly. A smile subconsciously bloomed on Zhu Tong’s lips.
As Shao Ming leaned in, he suddenly felt something was off. The person beside him seemed to be trembling slightly. As he lifted his head, he saw Zhu Tong was secretly laughing.
“You…”
Shao Ming couldn’t help but pinch his cheek.
Zhu Tong was startled. “What’s wrong?”
Shao Ming thought to himself, ‘Looks like I’m the only one being dramatic here, this young master seems quite amused with himself.’
Also, who doesn’t like going home?
If the principal suddenly shouted that tomorrow is a vacation, it’s not an exaggeration to say that everyone would be happily shouting, laughing amongst themselves, and giving salute to the principal.
He sighed helplessly, and stood up with the glass in his hand, “Alright, I’ll take a bath then…”
After saying that, he turned his head and said, “Have you washed yet?”
Just a few days have passed since the last injury, and this hygiene-conscious young master is back to the state where he can’t wash but only wipe himself.
Zhu Tong probably remembered the embarrassing situation when he had a wound on his thigh. His face flushed slightly, and he lowered his head, saying, “I’ve already washed.”
Uncle Liu wiped his back, and he wiped the rest himself.
Shao Ming silently thought he was really losing out.
He knew he shouldn’t go to afternoon class today.
He coughed, “Then I’ll go wash now.”
Zhu Tong nodded.
After taking a bath, Shao Ming went straight into Zhu Tong’s room.
It wasn’t late yet for his biological clock to make him sleepy. After finishing digesting the class notes and completing the homework, Zhu Tong spent some time reading before slowly climbing into bed.
The thought of another person sleeping on his bed today made him nervous.
It wasn’t easy for Shao Ming as well. After taking a bath, he sat on the head of the bed and pretended to be calm.
He reached out subconsciously to catch him, afraid that the movement might tug at his wound when Zhu Tong climbed up.
Zhu Tong was stunned when he felt a touch against his skin, “Why are your hands so cold?”
Shao Ming froze for a moment, then said nonchalantly, “The water heater is broken again, and there is no hot water.”
Zhu Tong: “…”
Didn’t he say it was already fixed last time?
And they hadn’t seen any hot water after using it for so many days.
It got broken again?
“Then you shouldn’t have taken a cold shower, what if you catch a cold?”
Shao Ming didn’t care much and said, “It’s okay, I’m in good health.”
“…”
Zhu Tong still looked at him worriedly.
Shao Ming raised an eyebrow slightly. “Otherwise, do you want to give me some warmth?”
Zhu Tong rarely did not immediately deny it. He glanced at the only blanket on the bed, knowing that Shao Ming didn’t bring any of his stuff when he came over.
He blinked and said, “Are we… going to share one quilt?”
Shao Ming’s throat tightened slightly. “Do you mind?”
He was about to say that if he minded, he would go get the blanket, but then he saw Zhu Tong gently shake his head and say, “I don’t mind.”
Shao Ming: “…”
Sometimes, Shao Ming would wonder if he had been repeatedly crossing Zhu Tong’s bottom line, and if this person, because of him, kept lowering his bottom line.
He clenched his hands tightly, took a deep breath, and said as calmly as possible, “Let’s sleep now.”
Zhu Tong nodded and said, “Mm.”
Shao Ming didn’t dare to let Zhu Tong actually lie on top of him to sleep. If he actually did that at this moment, then he’ll have a big problem.
Zhu Tong was initially quite nervous, breathing lightly. After tucking himself into the blanket, he intended to lie with his back to Shao Ming. However, before he could adjust to a comfortable sleeping position, he felt a gust of cold air coming from inside the blanket.
It came from Shao Ming.
He hesitated for a while, then looked up from the quilt and said, “Can I sleep on the same pillow as yours?”
Shao Ming: “…”
Can he refuse?
Reason told him to refuse, but when he came to his senses, the quilt separating the two of them had already been lifted by him.
Zhu Tong carefully moved himself over as he shivered from the cold.
‘Hiss, it’s so cold.’
The weather this year is weird, with a long summer and a short autumn. It’s almost like going straight from short sleeves to needing a winter coat.
And during this kind of cold weather, Shao Ming dared to take a cold shower. Zhu Tong really doesn’t know what to think.
He was afraid of the cold himself, but now the cold air hit his body, and he subconsciously curled up.
After curling up, he found that lying on his side with his head resting on the other youth’s body was unexpectedly comfortable.
It will neither stretch the wound nor feel cold.
He even started to feel sleepy.
Although Shao Ming’s body was cold, he felt warm and secure.
Gradually, his consciousness began to be chaotic.
Shao Ming was not as comfortable as Zhu Tong was.
He was too cold, so he didn’t put his arms around Zhu Tong. When the warm body of the youth came over, his body was stiff.
He let Zhu Tong lean against him and turned his head to look out the window, planning to count how many stars were in the sky.
The moonlight hung high outside the window. But besides the blanket of darkness… there were no stars to be found.
Shao Ming: …
At that moment, the youth leaning against his side moved, making him instantly alert. He turned his head and realized that the person had just adjusted the hand that was sandwiched in between them.
Zhu Tong seemed to notice his turning pose, and said in a daze: “You haven’t slept yet?”
Shao Ming: “…Mn.”
It would be strange if he could fall asleep in that situation.
Zhu Tong didn’t ask why he wasn’t asleep either. In his drowsy state, he suddenly thought of something and rubbed his head against Shao Ming’s shoulder to move his bangs away from his face. “I just thought of a question.”
Shao Ming’s throat was itchy. He replied as he gently gritted his teeth, “What’s the problem?”
Zhu Tong asked, “If I go back for a check-up, what about my classes?”
Although it was common for him to miss classes in the past. Now that he finally made progress in his studies, he didn’t want to fall behind again.
Shao Ming didn’t expect that he still had the mind to think about his studies at this time.
Was this young master a scholar in his last life?
He couldn’t help but laugh, his chaotic mind was washed away by the mention of “studying.” He replied, “I’ll take good notes for you, and you can catch up when you come back.”
Zhu Tong furrowed his brow with his eyes closed. “But it’s different… Even with notes, I still have to attend the new classes.”
He’s afraid he won’t be able to keep up.
Shao Ming said softly, “Then when you come back, I will tutor you?”
Due to his drowsiness, Zhu Tong’s mind sluggishly processed the situation. He seemed to find the solution feasible and curved his lips into a smile. “Then how much tuition fee do I owe you for tutoring?”
His voice was so low that if it wasn’t for the silence in the room, it was almost impossible to hear what he was saying.
Shao Ming gazed at his slightly upturned profile in the moonlight, his pale skin reflecting the lunar glow with a touch of coldness. Yet, Shao Ming knew that behind that face, there was warmth.
He lowered his voice to a whisper: “I don’t want tuition fees.”
‘I want you.’
He couldn’t help but reach out and flick the bangs that had fallen over Zhu Tong’s eyes, giving his shoulder a gentle pat in the process, but he couldn’t flick the bangs away from Zhu Tong’s eyes.
Zhu Tong didn’t hear what he said at all, and was still slowly calculating with his muddled mind.
How much would the tuition fee be for a day, for a week, and for a year.
Despite his drowsiness, his mental calculations were surprisingly accurate.
It’s just that after a year, he doesn’t need to count anymore.
He murmured, “One year…”
Listening to him repeatedly say “one year,” Shao Ming suddenly remembered the time he once accompanied Zhu Tong back to the hotel and overheard him talking on the phone.
The person on the phone, who was concerned about him, mentioned buying him an apartment near the school. At that time, Zhu Tong said he would return within a year at most.
One year at most.
What does this mean?
He tidied up Zhu Tong’s bangs, and casually twirled a strand around his fingers. He felt a strange sense of curiosity and asked, “Why one year?”
Words spoken in a soft, coaxing tone can disarm anyone’s defenses.
Zhu Tong was indeed disarmed. He mumbled, “Because… only one year…”
“…”
What does only one year mean?
Shao Ming frowned slightly. As he wanted to ask more, the youth besides him was already breathing evenly.
“Zhu Tong.”
He called out softly, but there was no answer.
