Keztranslations

Chapter 31

　　This time, Tong Yan tested first in the grade. Sunday evening, when he went to school to review the test papers, he had already accepted his classmates’ congratulations, and when they met again on Monday morning, everyone still greeted him with a smile.

　　Last time, he won second place, losing to a student in the neighboring class by one point. It’d felt like the students in his class were more disappointed than Tong Yan, one after another expressing their regrets to him. This time, he was in the lead by 15 points, and everyone was collectively excited, feeling that this “win” was their own.

　　Chai ManMan also did well on the test. Eighteenth in the class and twenty-fifth in the grade. When they analyzed the results in class, the homeroom teacher specifically praised the two desk-mates.

　　After class, Chai ManMan wanted to invite Tong Yan to the school cafeteria for dinner, but Tong Yan was a day student, and Zhuo Xiang Ming would definitely pick him up on time. So, on the way home from school, Tong Yan carried five boxes of banana milk in his schoolbag.

　　”Why is this so heavy?” Helping Tong Yan carry his schoolbag had already become Zhuo Xiang Ming’s habit.

　　While he leaned over to fasten Tong Yan’s seat belt, Tong Yan conveniently hugged his neck: “Thank you gifts from my classmate.”

　　”Huh?” Zhuo Xiang Ming rested his hand on Tong Yan’s waist, letting him hug him, not pulling back for the time being. He asked, “Which classmate, thanks for what?”

　　Tong Yan tilted his head: “Chai ManMan, and of course, it’s appreciation for me being selfless and helpful, the roses in her hand, the flavor in mine.”

　　”You should’ve used such eloquence when writing your essay.” Zhuo Xiang Ming bumped foreheads with him.

　　The “flavor in mine” classmate Tong Yan, didn’t technically score lower in other subjects, but he always couldn’t complete the Chinese language tests. Looking into the details, the reason was very easy to find out, for the most part, the reason was that he struggled to write 800 cursive characters in his essays.

　　Tong Yan released Zhuo Xiang Ming, pushing his shoulder away with one hand, and rubbing his face with the other, refusing to continue this topic: “Let’s go home.”

　　They were plagued by the usual traffic jams, and endless red lights, one after the other. Tong Yan eventually grew bored and leaned on the center console, watching Zhuo Xiang Ming.

　　He usually wore black shirts, but today, he wore a white shirt. It still looked good, but it felt very different.

　　The weather was slowly getting colder, and the sun set more and more earlier. Currently, the city street lights were already on, the bright lights and the faint sunset on the horizon constituted the unique dusk of late autumn Jiangdu. When not looking at Tong Yan, Zhuo Xiang Ming had no expression on his face as usual. From the side, Tong Yan could see a profound silhouette, with a cold handsomeness.

　　He was focusing on the road ahead, the hair that Tong Yan had helped style before leaving home that morning was still intact. Tong Yan was confident that he hadn’t rested during the day.

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming wasn’t aware that he was being stared at by a love-struck Tong Yan. When the red light was about to end, he raised his hand, straightening his tie. His knuckles were clear, and his cuffs were open, exposing half of his wrist watch and his wrist bones, covered by a thin layer of skin, inexplicably sexy. Then he coughed lightly, his Adam’s apple rolling up and down, and Tong Yan changed his lying position, facing the car window, not looking at him anymore.

　　Tong Yan admitted that he was seduced enough, but he didn’t expect to hear the sound of the door locking as soon as he entered the house. The scent of cedarwood drew near, and he was hugged from behind.

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming had hung his schoolbag on his arm, blocking him in as he hugged him tightly. He brought his other hand to his face, lowering his head to kiss him lightly. Leaving his mouth, Zhuo Xiang Ming’s kisses fell again, one by one, on the tip of Tong Yan’s nose and his eyelids.

　　However, this time, Zhuo Xiang Ming didn’t entangle him for too long. After demanding some benefits, he soon let go, walking ahead with a composed expression.

　　After dinner, the two went into the study together, one to do homework, and the other to continue working.

　　Recently, Zhuo Xiang Ming was much busier than before. He not only had to handle his own affairs, he also started helping out Lin Yue Hua’s side. But because he insisted on not joining the Zhuo family’s business, the many things he needed to do required complicated procedures, so it took more effort and time.

　　When Tong Yan finished his homework, Zhuo Xiang Ming was still sitting behind the office desk. The screen in front of him hadn’t changed for a long time. He was mainly looking at statistics reports. Tong Yan knew a little about it, and he knew even more that he was working hard. Not wanting to disturb Zhuo Xiang Ming, he picked up his schoolbag and quietly moved to the door.

　　”Are you done with your homework?” As soon as his hand touched the doorknob, Zhuo Xiang Ming suddenly asked.

　　Tong Yan stopped and turned around: “Yeah, I’m done.”

　　”What are you doing later?”

　　After thinking about it, Tong Yan said: “Building the Taj Mahal.”

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming leaned back in his office chair, a document still in his hand: “Come here.”

　　Tong Yan walked over: “Do you need my help?”

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming: “Yes.”

　　Tong Yan really hadn’t expected it to be true: “With what?”

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming reached out and pulled him into his arms: “Hug me.”

　　At the start, Tong Yan was a bit stiff, but Zhuo Xiang Ming really was just hugging him, he didn’t do anything else, looking very tired. Tong Yan slowly relaxed, leaning against Zhuo Xiang Ming, he hugged him obediently.

　　”Are you tired?” Tong Yan asked after a while.

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming hummed, bowing his head to look at him: “I’m very tired. I have a headache and sore shoulders.”

　　His facial expression was still indifferent, but somehow, it made Tong Yan feel that he was very pitiful. Helpless to help, he said distressedly: “Rest for a while, you can work later.”

　　”No, it has to be finished today.” Zhuo Xiang Ming said.

　　”Um …” Tong Yan said, “Then what can I do?”

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming: “Go build your Lego, I’ll just be here by myself, working.”

　　This time, Tong Yan was finally certain: “Are you pretending to be pitiful?”

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming: “Am I not pitiful?”

　　”…”

　　Tong Yan resignedly reached out to massage the space between his brows, then he kneaded his shoulders for a while. Zhuo Xiang Ming closed his eyes, enjoying it. Finally, he couldn’t restrain a smile, and Tong Yan promptly stopped his movements, swatting him on the shoulder: “How dare you!”

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming opened his eyes and grabbed the hand Tong Yan was pulling away, a smile still on his face: “I wasn’t lying to you, I’m really very tired.”

　　”I’m ignoring you.” Tong Yan said.

　　He pulled back his hand, hiding it behind his back, striving to act offended. Blushing, he pulled out from Zhuo Xiang Ming’s embrace, grabbed his school bag, and left.

　　But half an hour later, Tong Yan, bathed and changed into pajamas, returned to the study with a big box, his hair half-dried. He put the box down by the window and left again, pouring a glass of water for Zhuo Xiang Ming.

　　Putting down the glass, Tong Yan didn’t immediately leave again. Zhuo Xiang Ming took hold of his hand and asked: “Are you keeping me company?”

　　It wasn’t long since he’d come out of the bathroom, his face was steamed red, and his eyes were dark and shiny. Tong Yan’s fingers fidgeted in Zhuo Xiang Ming’s palm as he said, “I’ll get more inspiration here.”

　　”Oh.” Zhuo Xiang Ming nodded and asked, “Then, will you still massage my shoulders later?”

　　Tong Yan bowed his head, looking at him with two round eyes, as if he was glaring, but also as if he was acting flirtatiously. After a while, he said, “I’ll massage you after you finish your work.”

　　At eleven o’clock, Zhuo Xiang Ming stopped working. Tong Yan had already stopped building Lego a long time ago, and was now leaning drowsily against the glass window.

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming had not yet organized the messy documents, walking over lightly, he crouched beside him, and touched his face: “Tong Tong, go to bed.”

　　”Uh-huh.” Tong Yan was originally half asleep, and quickly agreed confusedly, “Are you done?”

　　”Not yet, I’ll reassess it tomorrow.” Zhuo Xiang Ming didn’t wait for him to get up, directly lifting him up, “It’s very late, I wasn’t looking at the time.”

　　It wasn’t the first time Tong Yan was carried. He only stared blankly for a moment, then he quickly stretched out his arms to embrace Zhuo Xiang Ming. With his eyes closed, he said, “You’re very late.”

　　He very rarely stayed up late, and he had a habit of sleeping at ten o’clock, so now, he was really sleepy.

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming didn’t turn on the lights, he opened the door and went in, putting Tong Yan down on the bed, then he covered him with a quilt.

　　But he couldn’t leave immediately–Tong Yan was completely awake now, and was hugging him, unwilling to let go. He pressed down on the back of his neck, pulling Zhuo Xiang Ming towards him, affectionately rubbing his face against him.

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming supported himself on the bed with one hand, the other hand on Tong Yan’s face, letting him finish his cuddling, he whispered, “Behave, go to sleep.”

　　”I’ll massage your shoulders.” Saying this, Tong Yan kneaded his shoulders a few times, but because of his sleepiness, his two hands were weak, and the massage could barely be felt.

　　The room was full of Tong Yan’s pheromones, it was originally a very light fragrance, but it was quite enticing for Zhuo Xiang Ming, he couldn’t move a step.

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming gathered Tong Yan into his arms, quilt and all, and repeatedly kissed his ear, his voice extremely low: “Baby.”

　　Tong Yan also wanted to hug him for a while, but he felt timid, and eventually, he let go. He listened as Zhuo Xiang Ming said good night and left, closing the door behind him.

　　After two days of intimately getting along, on Wednesday morning, after breakfast, Tong Yan was getting ready to leave for school as usual, but Zhuo Xiang Ming wasn’t moving, saying to him, “Tong Tong, I have something to tell you.”

　　Tong Yan: “Okay, what is it?”

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming: “I have to leave on a business trip today. My flight is at 6 pm, there’s not enough time to pick you up from school. So tonight, you should either return to your dad’s house or have someone bring you to my mother.”

　　Tong Yan kept his hold on the back of the dining chair for a long moment, before saying, “Oh, okay.”

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming observed his expression and asked, “Where do you want to go?”

　　Tong Yan: “I’ll think about it.”

　　”OK.” Zhuo Xiang Ming got up, “Tell me on the way.”

　　But on their way to the school, Tong Yan was silent. He only asked Zhuo Xiang Ming how long he would be gone, and Zhuo Xiang Ming said at least three days, at most five, but after that, he didn’t ask anything else.

　　Tong Yan didn’t speak, and Zhuo Xiang Ming also joined in the silence.

　　Parting at this time wasn’t easy for Zhuo Xiang Ming.

　　His desire to monopolize and protect Tong Yan was so heavy that he found it excessive, and he wasn’t willing to give him to anyone. Not only was he worried about Tong Yan’s well-being, he also kept thinking about his sweet kisses and coquettishness. He was always thinking about Tong Yan, repeatedly switching back and forth between the roles of an elder and a lover, irrationally thinking that every kind of care should be given to him.

　　He knew that Tong Yan would be a bit uncomfortable, but because he knew that Tong Yan had an open and playful personality, and his attention was easily distracted, he thought that a few days of separation would maybe pass quickly for Tong Yan.

　　He didn’t expect such a big reaction from Tong Yan.

　　Not smiling or speaking, from someone like Tong Yan, this was a very big reaction.

　　The car pulled to a stop at the school gate, Zhuo Xiang Ming grabbed the schoolbag from the back seat, and Tong Yan finally opened his mouth to say, “I’ll miss you.”

　　Outside, the cars of teachers and parents were coming and going, so Tong Yan only grabbed Zhuo Xiang Ming’s cuff and said, dejected, “What can I do about missing you?”

　　He looked at Zhuo Xiang Ming, reluctance to part filling his eyes, as he spoke, his eyes reddened slightly: “Why didn’t you tell me last night? I don’t want to go to school now.”

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming touched Tong Yan’s face with the back of his hand: “I was afraid you’d get upset if I told you last night.”

　　”I’m upset now.” Tong Yan promptly said.

　　He grabbed Zhuo Xiang Ming’s hand and pressed it closer to his face. After a while, he couldn’t hold back, demanding, “Kiss me.”

　 Zhuo Xiang Ming: “Now?”

      Tong Yan looked slightly irritated, frowning, “Why not?”

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming hurriedly leaned forward, enveloping him with his body. Through the windshield, probably only Zhuo Xiang Ming’s back could be seen from outside.

　　Tong Yan responded to the kiss with enthusiasm –he was now a lot more skillful at kissing, at the very least, he wouldn’t bite lower lips and struggle to breathe. Zhuo Xiang Ming originally intended to kiss lightly, but Tong Yan’s sweet response drove him deeper and deeper. At the end, Tong Yan laid limp in his arms, breathless, and he firmly pressed Tong Yan’s shoulder.

　　”If I leave now, it’ll be the last time we see each other today, right?”

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming gently rubbed his damp lips, saying in a low voice, “Yes.”

　　”Why are you so bad?” Tong Yan got angry again, but thinking of their inevitable parting in a few minutes, he hugged Zhuo Xiang Ming, reluctant to let go, “Zhuo Xiang Ming, I didn’t know you could be so bad.”

　　He plunged his hands into Zhuo Xiang Ming’s hair, sticking their faces together, as if he never planned to separate. He was still murmuring sweetly: “I’m beginning to think that you don’t have a conscience. Was this deliberate? I really don’t like you … can you kiss me again?”

　　Zhuo Xiang Ming’s heart softened under Tong Yan’s polishing, saying bittersweetly: “I can’t, you really won’t be able to go to school if I kiss you again.”

　　He felt that he really was a despicable man. Seeing Tong Yan so reluctant to part with him, he felt only happiness and satisfaction in his heart. He kissed Tong Yan, fully aware that the boy was reluctant to part, but he still said, “Go, you’ll be late.”

　　In the end, they separated. Tong Yan walked towards the school, constantly glancing back. Chai ManMan saw that he wasn’t in a good mood, so after the morning study session began, she asked in a low, concerned voice: “What’s wrong, are you sick?”

　　After thinking about how to word it, Tong Yan explained, writing in his notebook with a painful expression: “My husband left on a business trip, it might last five days. We’re starting a long-distance relationship.”

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T/N:

the roses in her hand, the flavor in mine- The belief that helping others will benefit yourself as well.

cursive- Or, writing continuously without lifting your hand from the paper. Probably means something else when it’s done with Chinese characters.

Tong Yan admitted that he was seduced enough- 童宴自认被勾引得够呛, I translated it grammatically correct, I think, but I’m not sure what it means.