Keztranslations

Chapter 27

Zhuo Xiang Ming closed the office door, and Tong Yan couldn’t keep pretending that nothing had happened again. He turned around and entered the door in the middle of the office, the lounge.

    Before they got married, Zhuo Xiang Ming often used this lounge, even staying overnight numerous times. So, although the room was small, it was fully furnished. As soon as he entered the room, he could smell Zhuo Xiang Ming’s pheromones. Looking at the sleep mask and opened cigarette box scattered by the bedside, it looked more lived-in than the bedroom in the Zhuo family house.

    Tong Yan bowed his head and sat down on the edge of the bed. His legs still felt a little soft. His brain was chaotic, his breathing wasn’t very smooth, and his face was burning.

    As soon as Zhuo Xiang Ming tried to approach, Tong Yan raised his head and looked at him solemnly: “Don’t you have a meeting, why did you follow me?”

    “Then, will you wait for me here?” Zhuo Xiang Ming asked.

    Tong Yan hesitated: “I don’t know … I might go back soon.”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming immediately said: “I’ll send you.”

    “No need.” His embarrassment dissipating some, Tong Yan still unconsciously touched his face, “I can call the driver over, or just take a taxi.”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming didn’t respond, instead, he turned and left, then came back in with a glass of water, handing it to Tong Yan: “I wasn’t expecting you, so there’s nothing to eat, just drink some water for now.”

    Tong Yan hummed, and Zhuo Xiang Ming once again said, “Wait a while, I’ll send you.”

    He crouched in front of Tong Yan, kneeling on one knee, his arms resting on Tong Yan’s thighs. Looking up, he asked: “Are you angry?”

    “No.” The water was a little hot. After Tong Yan took a sip, he held the cup with both hands and touched the back of Zhuo Xiang Ming’s hand with the bottom of the cup. He smiled, asking Zhuo Xiang Ming: “Is it hot?”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming: “It’s not.”

    “Don’t look at me like that …” Tong Yan eventually said, soft, sulking, and sweet.

    He blushed again, he was really introverted, Zhuo Xiang Ming sighed in his heart.

    “I’m not angry.” This time, Tong Yan didn’t look away, saying in a barely audible voice, “It’s because, well, you did that so suddenly, my heart wasn’t prepared. I seem to be inexperienced at kissing … I bit you, sorry …”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming didn’t expect him to be troubled because of this. For a moment, the words of apology and self-reflection were stuck in his throat. The heart that had been still for many years was being held by this naïve boy, and was kneaded into an extremely soft state. At this moment, he felt that even if Tong Yan asked him for the stars and the moon, he’d do everything in his power to pick them for him.

    But Tong Yan didn’t want the stars, nor the moon, he seemed to want Zhuo Xiang Ming to leave, slightly apologetic: “The others should be getting anxious, you should go ah.”

    “Promise you won’t sneak away first.”

    After only being lovey-dovey for a few days, this boy couldn’t handle it and ran. After what just happened, Zhuo Xiang Ming felt that as soon as he left for the conference room, Ton Yan would run away to hide at the Tong family house.

    Tong Yan was embarrassed: “Sneak away? What …”

    “Can’t promise?” Zhuo Xiang Ming’s hand was covered by the cup he was holding, he must get an answer.

    Tong Yan had no choice but to say: “I promise.” 

    Zhuo Xiang Ming finally got his promise and went to the meeting, before he left, he closed the lounge door for Tong Yan.

    Tong Yan breathed a sigh of relief, falling backwards onto the bed. He turned his head and took a deep breath, familiar alpha pheromones filling his nose, making him instinctively feel comfortable and safe.

    He laid silently for a while, his face still hadn’t cooled down, burning painfully. Tong Yan got up, planning to rinse his face in the bathroom.

    He didn’t know what he looked like until he looked into the mirror. He’d actually showed this type of face to the secretary…. then he remembered the wound on Zhuo Xiang Ming’s mouth and finally came to a realization. He was obviously fine before he left the meeting room, then he gained that sort of wound after staying in the office with him. Who would conclude that he was only handling business?

    Tong Yan no longer wanted to keep his promise, grabbing his cell phone, he put on his coat and immediately ran away.

    He waited for a few minutes, then sent a message to Zhuo Xiang Ming when he got into a taxi: I’m so hungry. Going out to eat now, then I’m heading home (╯3╰)

    Okay, this doesn’t count as sneaking away.

    He didn’t know, ten minutes ago, the secretary who’d gone out to buy a pile of assorted snacks returned to the meeting room. They cracked open the door and shook their head at Zhuo Xiang Ming, meaning, that person left.

    Zhuo Xiang Ming swiped the screen, typing out something, deleting it, then finally sending: Don’t overeat, pay attention to the road.

    “Mr. Zhuo?” The senior manager who was halfway through his report fearfully stopped, looking at Zhuo Xiang Ming’s indefinable expression, thinking there was something wrong.

    Zhuo Xiang Ming put down his cell phone: “Continue.”

    The atmosphere in the conference room changed slightly. Afterwards, those who gave reports were very cautious, afraid of becoming a scapegoat. But Zhuo Xiang Ming didn’t get angry, even calmly asking questions, and the meeting ended uneventfully. Later, someone who was familiar with the secretary unit secretly went to inquire about what happened, why did the boss’ mood change so drastically when he came back from the break.

    Normally, the secretary naturally wouldn’t reveal Zhuo Xiang Ming’s privacy, but the matter today was really laughable, and it wasn’t an unspeakable event. So, they said lightly: “Didn’t Mr. Tong come here … he said he would wait for the boss in his office, but when the meeting re-started, he left … As soon as the boss came back, he still asked if Mr. Tong left a message for him before he left.”

    Needless to say, everything was easily understood. The manager of the public relations department held back a smile: “That person is a bit young …” She pointed to the corner of her mouth, and the secretary laughed. But in the end, the less they gossiped, the better. After all, Zhuo Xiang Ming’s gloominess was real. After sharing a few words, the two quickly dispersed.

    –

    Knowing that Tong Yan was already gone, Zhuo Xiang Ming still circled around the lounge. The sheets were neat, the sleep mask and cigarette box were tidied on the nightstand, and the empty water glass was upside down on the coaster.

    He walked to the place where Tong Yan had sat, pulling out a cigarette. But he only smelled it, not lighting it. He held it in his hand for a while, then finally put it back into the cigarette box.

    After the kiss, he only felt satisfied, but now, Zhuo Xiang Ming regretted it a little.

    Tong Yan was originally not a carefree person. Although he always teased him at home, he was still a timid boy. Just now, he was pressed against a door and kissed, then he was frightened by the secretary. If he didn’t run away, it would’ve been strange.

    He was now seriously reflecting over his behavior, but it was a hopeless situation. If Tong Yan approached him like that again, he still wouldn’t be able to control himself.

    After sitting conscientiously in the office for two more hours, Lin Yue Hua called and asked him to come home for lunch.

    Tong Yan wasn’t here, so where Zhuo Xiang Ming ate didn’t make a difference. Lin Yue Hua wasn’t in a hurry to hang up, asking him: “Is Tong Tong coming back tomorrow?”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming: “Not necessarily.”

    Lin Yue Hua: “What do you mean?”

    An anxious rabbit bit all who approached, Zhuo Xiang Ming lightly tapped his index finger on his desk as he said, “It’s very rare for his father and brother to both be home, maybe he’ll want to stay for a few more days.”

    “That’s true …” Lin Yue Hua said, “Then, what about during the day? Bring him over for lunch, then bring him back, you can’t do that?”

    She continued: “His father won’t be home during the day, so he’ll be bored by himself. If he comes over, he could chat with me.”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming also wavered a little: “I’ll ask him.”  

    “OK.” Lin Yue Hua laughed, “Just tell him I won’t take him shopping today, don’t be scared.”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming called Tong Yan, but no one answered. He wasn’t sure if Tong Yan was still feeling shy and didn’t want to see him, so he didn’t call again, heading straight to the Zhuo family house after work.

    He didn’t bring Tong Yan over, so Lin Yue Hua was somewhat disappointed. Zhuo Xiang Ming found it amusing: “So young, yet he has so many fans.”

    Lin Yue Hua also smiled, then she asked: “Did you two?”

    “What?”

    Lin Yue Hua: “What Jia Shuo said, did you two …?”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming thought about it, then finally said, “Yeah.”

    Lin Yue Hua was pleasantly surprised: “Really?! I thought he was just fooling around, how did you guys suddenly … when?”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming vaguely said: “When what, when is lunch?”

    “What ?” Lin Yue Hua sat beside him, “Is it true? Why didn’t you tell me, instead of…”

    “It’s true.” Zhuo Xiang Ming said helplessly, “Why would I lie to you about something like this?”

    .

    “T-t-then, what do we say to the Tong family? It might be better to meet again formally.” Lin Yue Hua was a little excited, “Or it might be better to wait. Tong Tong is still studying, I’m afraid his family will feel uneasy and take him back. That’ll be bad.”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming: “Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out after he adapts.”

    “How can I not worry?” Lin Yue Hua was displeased, “For such matters, the earlier you settle it the earlier you can relax.”

    She nagged about it for a long time, but Zhuo Xiang Ming only said that he wasn’t in a hurry, not yielding to Lin Yue Hua’s pestering.

    “I don’t know what you’re thinking!” Lin Yue Hua was helpless, and could only say, “Fine, do what you want.”

    But a few moments later, she said, “I’ve always said that Tong Tong is a good boy, now it seems that even his eyesight is also good … can’t you bring him over tomorrow so Mom can take a look at him again?”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming felt a headache: “Mom …”

   “Okay, okay. Indeed, the emperor is not worried, but his eunuchs are.” Lin Yue Hua went into the kitchen to oversee the soup, leaving Zhuo Xiang Ming alone in the living room.

    He thought about Tong Yan’s shyness, then thought about Lin Yue Hua’s reaction, finally deciding that the less Tong Yan was in her presence, the better. If he was constantly besieged, Zhuo Xiang Ming was afraid that Tong Yan would rethink his original declaration of no regret.

    The older alpha who just handed in his first kiss was extremely depressed. He regretted kissing Tong Yan at the wrong timing. He thought that if they’d kissed at home, the hasty escape afterward wouldn’t have happened. But at the same time, he couldn’t help but reminisce about the kiss in the office. It was very sudden, but also not sudden at all. As if the movements were innate, as soon as their lips touched, he knew what to do. Their lips touched intimately and deeply, lingering in memory, impossible to stop.

    Zhuo Xiang Ming’s expressionless face was reflected in the huge TV screen. Zhuo Jia Shuo came downstairs, then glanced at him, saying in disgust, “What obscene things are you daydreaming about?”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming ignored him, and Zhuo Jia Shuo paused, then asked suspiciously: “What happened to your mouth?”

    Before he could answer, his phone rang, it was Tong Yan.

    Zhuo Xiang Ming picked up and said: “Tong Tong?”

    Tong Yan’s voice was drowsy, as if he had just woken up: “Brother, did you call me?”

    “Yeah.” Zhuo Xiang Ming said, “I wanted to ask if you wanted to eat lunch with my family.”

    ” Eh …” There was a rustling noise, Tong Yan must’ve turned over. When he spoke again, his voice was still a bit muffled, “Then, when are you coming back? I thought you’d be back after my nap, but you’re not.”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming sensed something amiss: “Where are you?”

    Tong Yan said faintly: “At home, didn’t I tell you?”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming got up, gripping his cell phone a little tighter: “I’m coming back now.”

    Tong Yan mumbled an acknowledgement. Zhuo Xiang Ming was already holding his car keys, but was reluctant to hang up –Tong Yan wasn’t a rabbit that bit people when he was anxious, he was a little lamb who could deliver himself into the wolf’s mouth three or two times — Zhuo Xiang Ming asked softly: “Are you going back to sleep?”

    “No, I’m just lying down for a moment. I’ll get up and wash my face soon.”

    “OK, good.” Zhuo Xiang Ming said, “Don’t rush.”

    He hurriedly stepped out, and Zhuo Jia Shuo followed him to the gate: “Where are you going?”

    “Home.” He unlocked the car, “Tell mom I can’t join her for lunch today.”

   “So urgent? Is Tong Yan home?”  

    “Yes.” Saying this, Zhuo Xiang Ming held the door open, not going in, “Tong Yan bit me.”

    Zhuo Jia Shuo was confused: “What?”

    Zhuo Xiang Ming explained, his tone as if he was discussing the latest business news, “Didn’t you ask what happened to my mouth? Tong Yan bit me.”

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T/N:

“I’ll ask him.”  – This sentence had a question mark in the original, but there’s no reason for this to be a question. So, another typo I guess

It’s rare for the uke’s first kiss to also be the seme’s first kiss