Chapter 36

The next day, inthe afternoon, Tong Yang picked Tong Yan up from school, both hadn’t seen eachother for almost two weeks. The last time they met, it was still autumn, thistime, it really looked like winter. The street lamps above were topped with snow.Tong Yan wore a big cotton-padded coat, almost ankle length, he looked like hewas draped in a quilt.

Tong Yang drove an off-roadvehicle, Tong Yan wasn’t too enthusiastic about cars, but because the car was verybig, he still had an impression of it, and found it familiar. He soon rememberedthat when he went to Zhuo Xiang Ming’s parents’ house one weekend, this exact carmodel was parked in their yard.

Tong Yan said withoutthinking: “I saw this car at Zhuo Xiang Ming’s house.”

Tong Yang’sreaction was a bit strange. Tong Yan thought about it, then asked, “Isn’tthis the same one? Zhuo Jia Shuo’s car?”

Tong Yang didn’tlook at him, merely saying: “Who are you calling Zhuo Jia Shuo? Call himsister-in-law.”

”…” TongYan said, “You’re driving my sister-in-law’s car?”

Tong Yang: “It’smine.”

Tong Yan: “Oh…”

”What do youwant to eat?” Tong Yang flipped over the navigation, “Hot pot?”

Tong Yan said yes,then they called the restaurant’s number and waited.

A short while later,Zhuo Xiang Ming called to ask where they were going to eat, and Tong Yan toldhim the district. Lin Yue Hua picked up the cell phone: “Tong Tong, Auntiesaw a lot of people out today, shouldn’t you guys go to Zhuo Xing? There’s onein the 16th district and 21st district, whichever isnearest. You can also go shop around after you finish, without wasting time.”

Zhuo Xing was Zhuofamily’s shopping mall. It really was convenient for Tong Yan to go over, butit was originally just eating a meal, waiting a few minutes was nothing. ButLin Yue Hua was speaking out of good intentions, so Tong Yan agreed: “ThanksAuntie, then we’ll go to Zhuo Xing.”

He glanced at TongYang, and Tong Yang looked at the navigation again, saying, “16thDistrict.”

Tong Yan said toLin Yue Hua: “Auntie, we’re now heading towards the 16thdistrict.”

”Good, good,let me tell them, they’ll come out to receive you.” Lin Yue Hua said, “Talkto Zhuo Xiang Ming.”

The person on the otherend of the line was switched to Zhuo Xiang Ming, Tong Yan said, “Brother,you went home.”

Zhuo Xiang Ming:“Yeah, I just arrived. Call me after you’re done, I’ll pick you up and we’llgo back together.”

”Okay.” TongYan said.

”Don’t eat toomuch, you’ll get sick again.” Zhuo Xiang Ming warned.

During the weekend,Tong Yan ate so much at the Zhuo family house that he got indigestion. He onlystarted feeling slightly better last night. He blushed, promising: “I gotit.”

He hung up, TongYang had already changed routes, turning to glance at Tong Yan. His youngerbrother had been raised outside for more than five months. Although he didn’twant to admit it, the boy really had a rosy complexion, dark and bright eyes,and fluffy black hair, he must be very well raised.

”His mother alsotakes care of you?”

Tong Yan nodded:“Auntie is very good to me.”

”This brat isvery easy to bribe.” Tong Yang scolded him with a smile.

Tong Yan argued:“Of course, just be very good to me!”

”Now I can’tsay a word to you any more, right?” Tong Yang raised a hand to Tong Yan’sface, pinching until Tong Yan cried out, “Here, I’ll loosen your skin foryou.”

He pulled back hishand, Tong Yan really wanted to punch him, but seeing him driving the car, itwouldn’t have been a good idea, so he had no choice but to endure. He endureduntil the car stopped, then he was finally able to fight back. But the ZhuoXing people who came out to receive them had already been waiting for a longtime, Tong Yan could only continue to behave, following them into the restaurant.

Zhuo Xiang Ming wasalso eating dinner. Zhuo ZhengDe sat at the head of the table, Zhuo Xiang Ming satopposite Lin Yue Hua, and Zhuo Jia Shuo wasn’t present. There were only threeof them at the dining table.

After taking a sipof soup, Lin Yue Hua said, “Still, it’s much livelier when Tong Tong ishere.”

”He only knowshow to eat with his head down.” Zhuo Xiang Ming said. “He’s so big, but stillgets indigestion when no one looks after him.”

”As soon as Iget home, your face draws tight, like someone owes you eight million, but you smilewhen talking about outsiders.” Zhuo ZhengDe suddenly said.

Zhuo Xiang Ming andLin Yue Hua looked at each other, then Lin Yue Hua said, “This is because youdon’t smile at him.”

”Your own faceis scowling, but you still blame others.” Lin Yue Hua said, “What’s more,who’s an outsider? Tong Yan is my real daughter-in-law. According to you, ifyour surname is not Zhuo, you’re an outsider. Then I’m also an outsider.”

Zhuo ZhengDehurriedly said: “That’s not what I meant!”

Lin Yue Hua: “Thenwhat did you mean?”

”I’m justeating my meal.” Zhuo ZhengDe’s attempt to join the family chat failed. Nolonger accusing Zhuo Xiang Ming, he picked up some braised fish with hischopsticks.

Usually, Zhuo XiangMing would leave right after dinner, but because he had to wait for Tong Yan today,he didn’t rush home, staying with Lin Yue Hua in the living room.

Zhuo ZhengDe also dilly-dallied,sitting on the other side of the sofa, not going upstairs to his studio as usual.

Lin Yue Hua askedZhuo Xiang Ming in a low voice: “How are things going?”

”What things?”

Lin Yue Hua clickedher tongue: “With Tong Yan, last time didn’t you say… say it’sokay?”

Zhuo Xiang Ming felta headache coming: “It’s still okay.”

Lin Yue Huahurriedly said, “What does ‘still okay’ mean? I can tell you, the projectis going very smoothly. I meant to ask you two days ago, why did Tong Yan’sfather say that he wanted him to move back home?”

Zhuo Xiang Mingalso stared blankly: “When?”

”Four or fivedays ago.” Lin Yue Hua said, “I can’t remember exactly, but it was whileyou were away on your business trip. But at that time, Tong Li Qin must not haveknown that you weren’t home, he just mentioned it, and I didn’t dare tell him.I just said some random things, otherwise, I’m afraid he would’ve used it as anexcuse to take Tong Yan away.”

Zhuo Xiang Mingfelt that this matter, when narrated by his mother, sounded like a child kidnappingscene, and Tong Yan was the pitiful kidnapping target.

But it really wasquite dangerous, Zhuo Xiang Ming said: “What did uncle say? What did hehear?”

Lin Yue Hua said:“He just said that he was afraid that Tong Yan would inconvenience you.Since he wasn’t very busy with work now, it would be better to let Tong Yanmove back, to give you more freedom. It didn’t seem like he’d heard anything… but why are you guys still dawdling? As I said before, it’s best to informeveryone as quickly as possible. Let both sides meet each other, then you won’thave to sneak around like a thief.”

She guessed: “DoesTong Yan think it’s too early, is he shy?”

Zhuo Xiang Ming:“No, he’s not.”

Lin Yue Hua hissed,dissatisfied: “I wonder how Old Tong dares to kill the donkey when thegrinding is done? The stress disorder is barely healed yet he’s in such ahurry to take him back, my son is not a wolf ah.”

”Do you two thinkyou look like the good guys?” Zhuo ZhengDe couldn’t help but interrupt, “Justlooking at you now, even I’m scared, forget about Tong Yan’s father.”

”How was thatany of your business?” Lin Yue Hua turned to glare at him, “Can youstop messing around?”

Zhuo ZhengDe:“How is it not my business? Isn’t Tong Yan my daughter-in-law? I also careah.”

Lin Yue Hua: “Canyou listen to what you’re saying? How is that ‘caring’?”

She refused to acknowledgeZhuo ZhengDe, saying solemnly to Zhuo Xiang Ming: “Hurry up and fix this,if you guys feel embarrassed, just let mom talk. Influence Tong Yan to also wishfor it himself, he still needs to consider his child’s desires, it’s not easyto forcefully break up a fated marriage.”

Zhuo Xiang Ming:“You don’t have to worry.”

After talking for along time, Zhuo Xiang Ming was also anxious for a while when he heard that TongLi Qin wanted to make Tong Yan return home, currently, he still had a calmappearance. Lin Yue Hua also knew, things couldn’t be rushed, but knowing wasone thing, knowing and remaining calm was another.

”What are youthinking, do you still not want to find a partner?” Lin Yue Hua blurtedout.

Zhuo Xiang Mingpaused, looking at her abnormal expression, he pacified: “No, Tong Yan isstill young, we’re not in a hurry. Plus, two days ago we agreed to talk to hisfamily slowly, but.… Anyway, we still have all the marriage certificates, there’sreally no need to worry.”

Lin Yue Hua wasrelieved when she heard him say that he was going to speak to Tong Yan’s family,she was also embarrassed about her momentary loss of control.

The last time theydiscussed Zhuo Xiang Ming’s celibacy and bachelorism, the scene was not very peaceful.Zhuo Xiang Ming looked calm, but her attitude was very bad.

They parted on badterms that day, then things were further ruined by a surprise blind date set up.After that, Zhuo Xiang Ming didn’t return home for a few months.

Even now, this wasstill a topic that couldn’t be directly mentioned.

Zhuo Xiang Mingsmiled at her again, and Lin Yue Hua pursed her lips, saying: “I know the childis still young, but this isn’t … I just think that it’s not easy to meetsomeone you like, mom’s just afraid …”

She was emotionallyunstable while taking the medicine — energetic, anxious one moment, angry thenext, then wanting to cry soon after. Generally, Zhuo ZhengDe, who was unanimouslyrecognized as having the lowest EQ in the family, actually responded to this scenethe most.

Zhuo Xiang Ming got up and openedhis mouth, but he didn’t know what to say. Zhuo ZhengDe came over and pattedher shoulder, saying in a loud voice: “I think that boy looks good. Our oldest isindeed a lot older than him, but it looks like he’s dead-set on Xiang Ming. Hefollows him around like a baby duck, can he do without him? What are youworried about?”

He always madepeople feel inexplicably uncomfortable when he spoke. Lin Yue Hua wiped her tears,finding it both funny and annoying: “Shut up.”

”Okay, you goup and take a rest, you should also get a massage later.”

Lin Yue Hua wentupstairs, leaving Zhuo ZhengDe and Zhuo Xiang Ming in the living room.

The two of themwere even more silent.

After a while, Zhuo ZhengDe took out a folder and handed it to Zhuo Xiang Ming.

After flippingthrough it, Zhuo Xiang Ming understood. This was another young unrecognizedartist he’d met.

When Zhuo ZhengDe wasyounger, he was always like this. His own talent in painting wasn’t good, sowhen he saw someone who was talented, his naivety was ridiculous. He alwayswanted to help in every possible way. He didn’t think much, but behind him wasthe Zhuo Clan Consortium. Those who were helped either had their own thoughts,or outsiders seemed to have thoughts about them, resulting in a steady streamof rumors about female students.

With so many sexscandals, even the parties involved started thinking it was true. There were afew girls who really thought that they would become Mrs. Zhuo. One claimed tobe pregnant, and another cried to reporters every day. Zhuo Clan’s only heirhad a bitter love with himself that was not acknowledged by the Zhuo elders.

At that time, Lin YueHua had just married him, how could she put up with this? They fought noisily,and were certainly going to divorce.

Now, he doesn’ttouch these things himself, but after making Zhuo Xiang Ming help him once, hefound that Zhuo Xiang Ming was pretty efficient, so every time, he simply confidentlylet Zhuo Xiang Ming handle it.

But it was just amatter of supporting someone with money, a little means wouldn’t turn into whatZhuo ZhengDe did before. Zhuo Xiang Ming also wouldn’t be very inconvenienced,and sending someone to take care of it was faster than trying to reject Zhuo ZhengDe,so he accepted the task every time.

”Don’t letyour mother know.” Zhuo ZhengDe rubbed his hands.

Zhuo Xiang Ming wasn’tinterested, closing the folder after a glance: “I know.”

Zhuo Xiang Ming readreport forms for a while, when Tong Yan called, it was already ten o’clock, nottoo late, but it was definitely not early.

He picked up TongYan at Zhuo Xing Plaza, Tong Yang stood by to watch their car leave.

Tong Yan’s face wasflushed, Zhuo Xiang Ming didn’t see him for almost a whole night, so he alwayswanted to turn to look at him, “Is it cold outside?”

Tong Yan: “It’s cold,but I didn’t stay outside.”

He covered his facewith his hand: “This is hot. I went to see the prehistoric park, I ran allaround. It’s so much fun. Let’s go together next time.”

”Okay.”After chatting a bit, Zhuo Xiang Ming still couldn’t hold back. He reached outan index finger and pressed it on Tong Yan’s lips, then quickly took it away,“Do you have a lot of homework?”

Tong Yan didn’t havetime to feel shy before he received a death notice: “A lot! Today is especiallya lot!”

”Don’t worry.”Zhuo Xiang Ming glanced at the dashboard, “We’ll get back in twenty minutes, there’sstill time.”

But they couldn’t getback in twenty minutes—they unluckily met a chain of rear-end collisions whenthey were halfway home. The cold weather made the road slippery, it was classifiedas a serious accident, the front and rear ring roads were closed. Trapped inthe mess, when they finally got home, it was five past 12.

Tong Yan slept inthe car for a while, after taking a quick bath, he changed into pajamas andstarted his homework.

As he wrote it, hethought about how to answer if the teacher asked for the submission timetomorrow. Tong Yan didn’t have time to be anxious, just bowing his head toanswer the problems.

But when only halfof the math paper was done, it was already 1 o’clock. Zhuo Xiang Ming waswaiting by the side, seeing Tong Yan blinking sleepily, rubbing his eyes alternately,he couldn’t bear it any longer, getting up to hold his writing hand: “Leaveit, go to sleep.”

Tong Yan: “ButI’m not done yet. I still have a paper for Chinese and English, a physics summary,chemistry …”

”I’ll help youwrite it.” Zhuo Xiang Ming pulled him up from the chair, “I’ve learnedyour handwriting, the teacher won’t notice a difference.”

”Canyou?” Tong Yan had never done that before, he’d never even copied someoneelse’s homework, let alone have others do his homework, “But you’re also tired.”

Zhuo Xiang Ming:“I can rest any time, but you have to go to school tomorrow.”

Tong Yan hesitated:“Still …”

Zhuo Xiang Ming:“You’re wasting time, or do you want me to carry you again?”

Tong Yan blushed:“I wasn’t thinking about that.”

Zhuo Xiang Ming placedhis hands on the edge of the table, trapping Tong Yan between himself and thedesk, then bowed his head, “You weren’t thinking about it, but how about now?”

Tong Yan was originallyvery sleepy, but now it seemed that he wasn’t that sleepy anymore. He huggedZhuo Xiang Ming’s waist, moving closer to bring their faces together: “Guess?”

Tong Yan had just taken a shower, and hadn’tput on an isolation patch, the scent of his shower gel was covered up bypheromones. Mixed with the warm steam, it was particularly sweet.

Zhuo Xiang Ming alsowanted to be intimate with him, but it was truly late, there wasn’t even enoughtime to flirt. He kissed the corner of Tong Yan’s mouth, and carried him backto the bedroom.

The bedroom lightswere still off, Zhuo Xiang Ming put him down on the bed, and Tong Yan dove intohis quilt.

But when his nervesstarted relaxing, he realized that Zhuo Xiang Ming hadn’t gotten up, instead,he pressed part of his body weight on him, his lips slowly exploring his face.

The two had beenintimate many times, Tong Yan didn’t get shy as easily. Besides, the room waspitch dark, so his courage was also quite big. Not realizing the danger, he puckeredhis lips in response to Zhuo Xiang Ming.

Zhuo Xiang Ming heldTong Yan’s face in a fixed position, teasing around it for a few moments beforekissing his mouth. First, the kiss was very gentle, lightly nibbling and suckingon Tong Yan’s lower lip. It remained very tender, until Tong Yan couldn’t holdback his moans, which seemed to flip a switch in Zhuo Xiang Ming. He fiercely stuckin his tongue, after a while, the quilt separating the two was also ripped openby him, and his hand dug into Tong Yan’s loose pajamas.

Tong Yan wasrendered breathless by his kiss, and underneath was also messy, it took a long timeto separate, both of them panting.

Tong Yan’s eyeswere filled with tears, and his face was pressed against Zhuo Xiang Ming’s neckhollow. He accused: “You wolf, who dares let you carry them nexttime?”

”Who wouldhelp you write your homework for free? I can’t get some benefits?” Zhuo XiangMing pulled the quilt up again, covering up the reaction of that place thatrose early in the morning, his voice so hoarse that Tong Yan felt a little afraid,“Besides, I won’t carry just anyone, only you.”

”I won’t letyou carry me!” Tong Yan was still panting, the exhaled heat hit Zhuo XiangMing’s chin and neck. His breath was filled with the scent of sweet pheromones,making the alpha’s forehead veins jump.

Zhuo Xiang Ming’shold on his waist tightened, he bowed his head to bump foreheads, asking both fiercelyand urgently: “If I can’t carry you, the who do you want to carry you?”

Tong Yan was reallyon the verge of crying, not wanting to let him write his homework anymore, he persistentlypushed him away: “I won’t let anyone do it.”

”No good.”Zhuo Xiang Ming took a deep breath on his neck, temporarily crazy enough, he gotup and covered Tong Yan with the quilt, “Sleep.”

Tong Yan hummed, butbefore Zhuo Xiang Ming could leave, he grabbed Zhuo Xiang Ming’s hand again.

”Do you loveme?” Zhuo Xiang Ming squeezed his soft fingers.

Tong Yan whisperedin a tearful voice: “I love you.”

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T/N:

kill the donkey when the grindingis done- to get rid of sb once he has ceased to beuseful

but her attitude- the raw says “but at least her attitude was very bad”. The ‘at least’made no sense, so I removed it

naivety-再兼天真- It says re-double naivety, not sure what it means

Zhuo Clan’s only heir had a bitterlove with himself etc..- 卓氏唯一继承人跟自己不被卓家长辈承认的苦恋, unsure of translation

a little means wouldn’t turn etc..- 有点手段就不至于弄成卓正德那样 unsure oftranslation

wolf- 沒安好心, lit. not have good intentions, which is short for 黃鼠狼給雞拜年——沒安好心, “Theweasel pays the chicken a courtesy call on New Year’s Day ― he does not havegood intentions!”, which is equivalent to the English saying, ‘wolf in sheep’sclothing’, which I shortened to ‘wolf’. Phew!

Never trust an alpha TongTong