Chapter 43

”You shouldbuy an aircraft.” Zhuo Jia Shuo said, “Isn’t it popular with kidsthese days? You don’t want one?”

Tong Yan closed the folder, rubbing his fingertips on the sharp corners. After a while, he asked: “I’m always home, why would I need one?”

Zhuo Jia Shuo: “To play, duh.”

”Why on earth do you care about my playing?” Tong Yan turned to look at him, “And what’s bad about holding back?”

Zhuo Jia Shuo’s expressionstiffened: “Why are you speaking like that?”

After reading thatthing, Tong Yan really wasn’t in the mood to chat.

But when he closedhis eyes and sunk into the seat, he still couldn’t help but think about it.

The framework ofthe proposal should’ve been made by a subordinate, but Zhuo Xiang Ming really didreview it seriously. There was his signature on it, and some suggestions writtenin small print. Approve or reject, the more densely packed was the future,thinking about it, Tong Yan’s head hurt.

Zhuo Jia Shuo probablythought that Tong Yan was asleep. He didn’t speak again, and even turned offthe music. When they arrived at the house, he finally called him: “Tong Yan,we’re here.”

Tong Yan opened hiseyes, groaned, then shoved the folder in his arms into his bag and shifted toget out of the vehicle.

”Wait.”Zhuo Jia Shuo spoke again. He fished out a square card made out of diamondcrystal, hung on a key ring, and handed it to Tong Yan, “The aircraft should bedelivered tonight, they’ll park it on your roof.”

”…” TongYan stared blankly, then took it, saying, “Thank you …”

Zhuo Jia Shuo saidcoolly: “It’s nothing.”

”Why are yousuddenly giving me a gift?”

Zhuo Jia Shuo:“It’s not completely my present, mom put up half.”

Tong Yan once againsaid: “Thank you and Auntie.”

”Oh?”Zhuo Jia Shuo raised an eyebrow.

Tong Yan also knew thathe’d called out the wrong address, waving his hand, he said, “I know.”

Lin Yue Hua andZhuo ZhengDe were both home. They’d lit up the fireplace, although it was smoke-less,the room still had a slight woodsy scent.

”Tong Tong is here.”Lin Yue Hua smiled and walked over, leading Tong Yan to the table where she wasdrinking tea with Zhuo ZhengDe. She poured him a cup, “Just brewed, drink it towarm the body.”

”Thanks, Mom.”Tong Yan said.

Lin Yue Hua smiledeven more cheerfully, saying, “Xiang Ming too, he goes to work by himselfwith no concern for your vacation, letting you stay home alone.”

Tong Yan: “He’sconcerned about me, he sometimes comes back for lunch, and I can always go seehim.”

“That’s good.” Lin Yue Huasaid, “It’s good to spend time together. He’s like a block of wood, I hopeyou don’t feel bored.”

Lin Yue Hua always spokelike this in order to express her closeness to Tong Yan, but this time, TongYan suddenly felt like he couldn’t listen to it. But in the end, he had a goodupbringing, so he didn’t talk back to his elders. Plus, Lin Yue Hua wasn’t sincerelybad-mouthing Zhuo Xiang Ming, Tong Yan drank two mouthfuls of tea, and finallysaid, “Actually, he can also tell jokes, which is very different from ablock of wood.”

Lin Yue Hua laughedwhen she heard this: “He tells jokes? Maybe only to you, we’ve never hadsuch blessings.”

Tong Yan also laughed.

Zhuo Jia Shuo sat tothe side in rare silence. Lin Yue Hua pulled him in to chat. The group chatted idly,and at around seven o’clock, Zhuo Xiang Ming arrived. Tong Yan ran out as soon ashe heard the sound of the car, pulling up in front of the stopped car. Zhuo XiangMing got out and walked up to him: “What are you doing out here? It’s cold.”

”It’s not thatcold.” Tong Yan said.

Zhuo Xiang Ming pulledhis hand into his coat pocket.

Lin Yue Hua looked outfrom the window, when they came in, she greeted them with a call to dinner.

She looked veryhappy, Tong Yan wasn’t sure if it was because he and Zhuo Xiang Ming seemed tobe in a very close relationship. In fact, he was somewhat absent-minded allnight, minding Zhuo Xiang Ming’s every move, but also easily getting lost inhis thoughts.

When it was time towash their hands and brush their teeth, no one else was around, so Zhuo XiangMing squeezed his hand: “What’s wrong?”

Tong Yan looked up:“What?”

”You look lifeless.”Zhuo Xiang Ming asked in concern, “Are you not eating enough? What else do youwant to eat?”

Tong Yan: “No,maybe it’s because of the cold air today.”

Zhuo Xiang Ming:“It is very cold. Go to bed early tonight.”

When he entered thehouse, he went straight to the dining table, so he didn’t have time to change hisclothes, and was still wearing the suit he’d worn to the company. Because he’dworked a whole day shift, and drove over from so far away, he inevitably lookedtired, but the concern for Tong Yan in his eyes was still so deep.

Tong Yan’s untimelydownheartedness reached the extreme point. In any case, the bathroom door was shut,so he hugged Zhuo Xiang Ming, shoving his face into his chest.

He originallyplanned to directly ask Zhuo Xiang Ming about that matter tonight. He really couldn’tfigure it out, to put it plainly, Zhuo Xiang Ming was raised outside because atthat time, Zhuo ZhengDe was openly financing female students. The family hadbeen disturbed to that extent, but now Zhuo ZhengDe was continuing this badhabit, and even pushing the problem onto Zhuo Xiang Ming? In the end, does anyonein their family sincerely feel like they’d wronged Zhuo Xiang Ming?

And why did Zhuo XiangMing agree? Could he really not be upset?

But now, facingZhuo Xiang Ming, he didn’t want to bluntly interrogate. Zhuo Xiang Ming neverrequested anything from his family, this was his own choice. His childhood wasa long time ago, Zhuo Xiang Ming chose to flatly ignore it. Perhaps, as Zhuo XiangMing once said, he gave the matter to time. Time had already helped him forget.Tong Yan had also suffered while growing up, and he wouldn’t like to discussthose things again.

”Do you wantto go home?” Zhuo Xiang Ming guessed on the basis of the few occasions TongYan was in a bad mood, “I’ll take you back to your home for dinner tomorrow,okay?”

”No, I want tostay at our home tomorrow.” Tong Yan knew what to say to make Zhuo XiangMing happy, “Are you tired?”

Sure enough, Zhuo XiangMing’s lips pursed up in a smile, because he’d called it ‘our home’. Then he bowedhis head, kissing his hair: “Not tired. You’re really a little squirrel, unwillingto leave home when the weather is cold.”

Tong Yan didn’tknow when he’d given him a little squirrel pet name, snorting in dissatisfaction,he raised his head to welcome his gentle kiss.

It was still early afterthey finished dinner, so no one returned to their rooms. The family wasdisorderly scattered around the living room. Tong Yan and Zhuo Xiang Ming saton the sofa, he switched to the news channel, which was fortunately broadcastingfinancial news.

Usually at home,Zhuo Xiang Ming would always watch this, and Tong Yan would build Lego. Butthere was nothing here for him to play with, Zhuo Xiang Ming said, “Changeit to what you want to watch.”

Tong Yan leaned onhim and shook his head: “I’ll watch this.”

Zhuo Xiang Minglooked down at him, Tong Yan raised a hand to turn his face: “Watch the TV.”

When the news broadcastwas over, Zhuo ZhengDe wanted to say a few words to Zhuo Xiang Ming, but whenhe saw Tong Yan asleep, he said quietly, “Your wife is sleepy, bring himup.”

Lin Yue Hua was alittle further away, when she saw Tong Yan asleep, she also waved at him:“Don’t call out, carry him up.”

Zhuo Xiang Mingalso had this idea. Zhuo Jia Shuo suddenly said, “I have something to say.”

Everyone looked athim. Zhuo Jia Shuo walked over from the terrace and sat opposite Zhuo XiangMing. After a long pause, he said, “I want to get married.”

”Huh?”Lin Yue Hua reacted first, “With whom?”

Zhuo Jia Shuolooked at her, then looked at Zhuo Xiang Ming again and said, “Tong Yang.”

Lin Yue Hua askedincredulously: “Who Tong Yang?”

Zhuo Jia Shuopointed to the sleeping Tong Yan with his chin: “His older brother.”

”…” LinYue Hua was speechless for a long while.

Zhuo Xiang Ming learnedabout this a few hours in advance, so it wasn’t too surprising. At this time,he didn’t intervene, holding up Tong Yan and saying, “You guys shouldslowly talk this over.”

After entering thebedroom, he put Tong Yan down on the bed, and was preparing to wring a towel towipe him, when Tong Yan woke up.

”Up? Youshould go take a bath.” Zhuo Xiang Ming bent over, rubbing his indexfinger across Tong Yan’s face, “Do you want to go now or later?”

Tong Yan slowly satup, remembering how he was originally going to accompany Zhuo Xiang Ming towatch the news, but he fell asleep in the end. He blushed a little: “I’llgo now.”

Zhuo Xiang Mingwent in to run the water for him.

After washing up, itwas only nine o’clock. Zhuo Xiang Ming leaned against the headboard, watching TongYan do exercises on the ground like he was watching a serious program.

He didn’t knowwhere he read about leg thinning yoga exercises, but he did twenty minutes ofit every night.

There were a few posesthat were very contorted and funny, so this became Zhuo Xiang Ming’s recententertainment source.

However, although helaughed at Tong Yan today, he wasn’t smacked by Tong Yan. Tong Yan even good-temperedlypoured him a glass of water after drinking his own.

”Do you haveany room for thinner legs?” Zhuo Xiang Ming’s hands were naughty, leaning forwardto kiss Tong Yan while groping Tong Yan’s lower leg, “They’ll fade out of existenceif they get any thinner.”

Tong Yan obedientlygave him a kiss, even opening his mouth a little, and wrapping his legs aroundhis waist, not very docile.

”Don’t youwatch enthusiastically every day?” Tong Yan said ambiguously.

Zhuo Xiang Ming:“Don’t you hit me when I laugh?”

After saying this,he let out an ‘oh’ and said, “It’s not that you want skinny legs, you wantto make me laugh so you can hit me?”

Tong Yan squeezed hisface back a little: “Did I hit you today?”

Zhuo Xiang Ming:“No.”

”I won’t hityou anymore.” Tong Yan patted his face again, “I’m going to treat youbetter.”

Zhuo Xiang Mingwasn’t very convinced, but facing Tong Yan’s red lips, he couldn’t help but kissthem, temporarily throwing the domestic violence incident to the back of his mind.

The two entangled togetherwithout shyness, and Zhuo Xiang Ming didn’t have time to react when Tong Yanwent down on him.

The shiver inducingnumbness ran from his lower back to his scalp, he reached out to push TongYan’s shoulder, but Tong Yan insisted, and his pushing also wasn’t very sincere.This time, Zhuo Xiang Ming was sober and not confused like last time. Tong Yanexhausted all his skills, and took a breather several times, serving for morethan 20 minutes before the conclusion.

Because of theretching, his eyes were wet, and his face had a few tear stains. His lips wereso red that Zhuo Xiang Ming didn’t dare look, moistened with some whiteness.

Zhuo Xiang Ming wassimply bewildered, staring blankly for a few moments before realizing, and reachingout to let Tong Yan spit it out. But Tong Yan closed his mouth, then stuck histongue out to show him: “Swallowed.”

”You …”Zhuo Xiang Ming’s eyes were also a little red, forced red by some brain-burningdesires.

He hugged Tong Yan fiercely,kissing those red lips, hard, until Tong Yan mumbled: “Mouth hurts.”He immediately didn’t dare continue the kiss, looking at Tong Yan, not knowingwhat to say. It was like he was looking at his archenemy, wishing he couldswallow them whole, but also like he was looking at a treasure, wanting to findan undiscovered island, so he could conceal Tong Yan away.

”What’s goingon today? So good.” Zhuo Xiang Ming used his thumb to gently rub TongYan’s lips, “Intentionally making me feel troubled.”

Tong Yan:“Don’t ever make the same mistake again.”

Zhuo Xiang Ming wasimmediately vigilant, asking: “What mistake?”

Tong Yan: “I foundit in your car today, promoting that painter.”

Zhuo Xiang Ming obviouslydidn’t remember, only reacting after a few moments: “I can explain, my…”

”What use isan explanation?” Tong Yan said, “Your father asked you to do it, Ican guess this, but knowing doesn’t mean understanding. I was in a very badmood today, because I was jealous. That female painter looks very pretty, and isn’tshe very appropriate for your age? One day, if some gossip blog reports on it, andother people wantonly spread it, will I find myself in a broken marriage again?”

Zhuo Xiang Ming responded,stammering: “I understand, I’ll definitely, I’ll never do it again.”

Tong Yan wasn’tvery convinced: “Really?”

Zhuo Xiang Mingsolemnly said, “Of course it’s true. When he asks me to do it again, I’lldefinitely reject him.”

”Okay.” TongYan said, “Let’s sleep, it’s really very cold today.”

Zhuo Xiang Ming huggedhim tightly. After a long time, he kissed Tong Yan’s forehead, and the two heldhands in the quilt, reluctant to separate.

He couldn’t pretendto not understand the situation. If Tong Yan hadn’t done those clumsy and earnestactions earlier, in order to make him happy, maybe he really would believe thatTong Yan was jealous because of the artist. But the fact was, Tong Yan wasn’tthe slightest bit jealous, although he hadn’t gotten upset about it, Tong Yan hadtaken his place, and felt wronged on his behalf. Tong Yan had wielded his fangsand claws to protect him.

In the end, this wasmerely a very small matter, but Zhuo Xiang Ming was very ashamed to admit that hefelt like crying, because he realized that from now on, all his happiness,sorrow, anger and joy would be accompanied by another person. At this moment,this became a very substantial idea, but ultimately, there were no tears in hiseyes.

He’d probably criedtoo many times as a child, so now, as an adult, his tears didn’t come out aseasily. Even if there were tears, most of them went to his heart, and even whenthey flowed to his heart, he might not notice it, because many things passedaway in numbness.

He was a nonchalantadult, but Tong Yan always found his weak points. However, he never poked them,instead, the little squirrel worked hard to carry over a lot of pine cones, helpinghim plug up the weak places.

====================================================================

Author’s Note:

It’s very late, Mr. Tong didn’twrite his diary, everyone should also go to bed early.

T/N:

That’s right TongTong, keep your manin line.

I think their families are prettyrealistic, sometimes kind and caring, sometimes thoughtless and selfish. It’s achange of pace from the usual family dynamic in Chinese novels, where they’re eitheroverly supportive and doting, or ridiculously cruel. Still don’t like them lol