ATMAWTPM Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The little tree he nurtured is growing healthily…

The bed was very large, more than enough for two people to lie down.

But Ye Tingtong still underestimated his own ability to cope. Although the bed was very soft, and the air conditioning and heating were comfortable, his whole body was stiff, and he had no intention of sleeping.

The two weren’t sleeping very close, but their arms still inevitably touched. The presence of the person next to him was too strong. Ye Tingtong felt that his arm was not only stiff but also a little numb.

He secretly retracted his arm a little, and then buried his slightly hot face into the quilt. But just as he buried his face, the quilt was suddenly pulled down a little.

“Don’t cover your head,” Shen Jun said. “With the air conditioning on, it’ll be stuffy.”

The distance that had just been widened returned to its starting point because of Shen Jun’s action. Shen Jun turned slightly to pull the quilt for him, and Ye Tingtong’s head touched his shoulder. The pleasant warmth of the other man’s body wafted over little by little, warm and mixed with the clean scent of shower gel.

Ye Tingtong only felt his face getting hotter, but he didn’t shrink back into the quilt. He rested his chin on the soft bedding and obediently said, “Okay.”

Shen Jun’s voice didn’t sound very sleepy either. Ye Tingtong thought for a moment and asked, “Are we staying here tomorrow too?”

In previous years, during the New Year, he would follow Ye Guodong around, visiting relatives whose names and seniority he didn’t even know. Occasionally, he would be introduced, but it was always with Shen Minghuai’s name attached.

[This is the one who’s with Shen Minghuai, my useless son.]

Actually, this New Year’s Eve, he thought he would also be tied to Shen Jun’s name and introduced to the Shen family. But Shen Jun only assigned him the task of handing out red envelopes to the children.

However, before dinner, many people took the initiative to greet him, clearly knowing him, and even taking the initiative to state their identities before talking.

This made Ye Tingtong feel respected. When he was with Ye Guodong, those people never bothered to introduce themselves to him.

However, Ye Tingtong didn’t know if the Shen family had any other gatherings besides this New Year’s Eve dinner.

“No need,” Shen Jun quickly replied. “After breakfast tomorrow, we’ll go back to Taizi Bay.”

The implication was that they didn’t need to interact with the Shen family anymore.

“But I will have some social engagements later, do you want to come along?”

Ye Tingtong hesitated, “Can I not go?”

He was not interested in these social gatherings at the moment, and he had been working part-time at the dessert shop for half a month before the New Year without any weekend breaks, and he felt a little tired.

“You can,” Shen Jun said in a steady tone. After he finished, he paused for a moment, “Do you want to go back to the Ye family for the New Year?”

“If you want to go back and see them, I can go with you.”

The New Year was a time for family reunions, and after all, this wasn’t where Ye Tingtong had lived since childhood. He was afraid that Ye Tingtong would miss home.

With him there, the Ye family wouldn’t dare to cause any trouble and would instead treat them nicely.

But Ye Tingtong refused, “No need.”

The entire Ye family was using him, and he didn’t need to cling to that illusory blood relationship, letting them think he was still useful.

“I know you’re afraid I’m lonely,” Ye Tingtong raised his head slightly, looking at Shen Jun in the darkness, “I also thought I would miss home, but I really don’t.”

In this unfamiliar place, he sincerely told Shen Jun that he had a good New Year.

He was a very content person.

The two chatted for a while, and unconsciously, Ye Tingtong also turned to his side. They were face to face, his head resting on Shen Jun’s chest. When Shen Jun spoke, he could feel the vibrations in his chest.

This feeling was magical.

It also made his heart flutter in the darkness.

The distance between the two was too close, but neither Ye Tingtong nor Shen Jun said anything, as if they hadn’t noticed.

The atmosphere gradually quieted down, and Ye Tingtong could faintly hear Shen Jun’s heartbeat, thump-thump, steady and powerful.

Lulled by the alcohol, he finally felt sleepy, but he didn’t want to fall asleep just yet. He tried to find a topic, “What did you talk to Shen Minghuai about today?”

He was curious about how Shen Minghuai had angered Shen Jun.

Even in the darkness, Shen Jun could feel Ye Tingtong’s gaze. He could imagine that if there was enough light, Ye Tingtong’s cute cat eyes would definitely be wide open, waiting for him to tell a story.

Just as he was about to speak, Ye Tingtong, for some reason, suddenly lowered his head and buried his face in his chest. The soft hair on the top of his head brushed against his chin.

Shen Jun asked, “What’s wrong?”

Ye Tingtong’s voice was muffled in his chest, indistinctly saying, “Nothing.”

He was too curious just now and had scooted up a bit. Without realizing it, he had gotten very close to Shen Jun. When he looked up, the other man’s warm breath landed right on his face.

It was ticklish.

And it made his heart, which had just stabilized, start racing again.

Ye Tingtong tried hard to maintain a calm tone, “You haven’t answered what I asked just now.”

Shen Jun felt the turtle burrowing into his chest. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, but he still followed Ye Tingtong’s words and replied, “Shen Minghuai threatened me, saying he was going to snatch you away from me.”

He didn’t mention that Shen Minghuai wanted to use shares to exchange for him. Just that short sentence, however, shocked the little turtle in his arms into raising his head.

Ye Tingtong was a little annoyed, “What nonsense is he talking! Don’t listen to him.”

Shen Jun lowered his head, meeting Ye Tingtong’s gaze in the darkness. “But I feel very insecure.”

Ye Tingtong stared blankly at the person in front of him. The moonlight outside poured into the room like a tide, faintly illuminating Shen Jun’s features.

His nose was high and straight, his lips were slightly pursed. He had a handsome face that was cold and indifferent, but his gaze was fixed on him, with a domineering hint of an indescribable possessiveness.

This look made Ye Tingtong’s cheeks burn. He subconsciously wanted to hide, but Shen Jun held his chin, not with much force, but enough that he couldn’t escape. “Shen Minghuai said that he will enter Shen’s, take my place, and then snatch you away.”

Shen Jun asked, “What should I do?”

His low, magnetic voice rang in Ye Tingtong’s ears, making him a little flustered.

He nervously swallowed, “He’s not as good as you, don’t be afraid.”

Shen Jun didn’t speak, as if he wasn’t satisfied with his answer.

Ye Tingtong’s eyelashes fluttered, and he bit his lip, “If you’re really worried, then I’ll be your inside man, okay?”

Just like Ye Chengliang had directed him, he could help Shen Jun steal some confidential documents.

After he said this, Shen Jun chuckled, and the hand on his chin was finally released, allowing Ye Tingtong to lower his head again and retreat into his shell.

“I’m not too worried about the company,” Shen Jun felt the hem of his shirt being tightly grasped. “I’m afraid you’ll be snatched away.”

Shen Minghuai’s final show of strength to him seemed like a determination to turn over a new leaf. He was also certain that their years of friendship with Ye Tingtong would allow him to easily win Ye Tingtong back.

And Ye Tingtong’s attitude towards him still had more respect than affection and he had yet to confront his own feelings.

Shen Jun felt he should be more proactive.

Now was the best time, and it was also the second phase after Canglu Mountain.

Ye Tingtong’s mind was a mess. His nose was filled with Shen Jun’s pleasant scent, making him dizzy. He was the one who didn’t handle alcohol well, so how come Shen Jun was starting to talk nonsense?

The word [afraid] coming out of Shen Jun’s mouth just didn’t fit.

But Shen Jun’s voice was low, as if he was really worried.

“It won’t happen,” Ye Tingtong whispered, “You won’t be snatched away.”

Shen Jun asked, “Really?”

His voice was a few degrees lower, making it sound even more deep. Ye Tingtong couldn’t help but rub his ear. He didn’t know why he was so sure that it wouldn’t happen, nor did he know why Shen Jun kept asking, he only knew that his neck was probably completely red right now.

Seeing that Shen Jun was about to speak again, Ye Tingtong quickly raised his hand to cover his mouth.

If it were daytime, Ye Tingtong would definitely not dare to do such a thing, but tonight seemed a little different. The two were sleeping in the same bed, and Shen Jun was approaching him step by step. Both physically and mentally, they were breaking the line they had before.

Shen Jun’s breath fell clearly on the back of his hand, bringing a scorching heat. Ye Tingtong unconsciously curled his fingers, but his fingertips accidentally pressed against Shen Jun’s lips.

It was said that thin lips were heartless, but no one told Ye Tingtong that lips could be so soft.

Ye Tingtong quickly retracted his hand, ignoring the rule that he shouldn’t cover his face, and burrowed into the quilt, covering himself up completely.

But he forgot that they were sharing the same quilt. When he rolled over with the quilt, Shen Jun’s side was instantly empty.

Ye Tingtong struggled in his heart for a moment, then rolled back into Shen Jun’s arms again, weakly reaching out to pull the blanket up over him.

However, his head was still covered.

The quilt on his face was pulled down by Shen Jun, but it didn’t budge.

Ye Tingtong was unwilling to come out.

Shen Jun was a little helpless, “Is it stuffy?”

Ye Tingtong pinched the four corners tightly, not letting in a single bit of fresh air.

The small bundle beside him arched up and then quickly settled down. Ye Tingtong took a breath before speaking, “You’re not allowed to ask anymore.”

“Okay, I won’t ask anymore,” Shen Jun chuckled, “Can you come out now?”

Only then did Ye Tingtong reveal his flushed face, and then carefully turned his body, slowly, little by little, moved into Shen Jun’s arms.

Shen Jun felt the fluffy touch on his neck, suppressed the thoughts in his heart, and didn’t press him further. “Sleep.”

What he wanted to say, he had already said.

*

The next day, when Ye Tingtong woke up, the person next to him was gone.

Last night, it was like Shen Jun had cast some kind of spell when he told him to sleep. It had been less than three minutes before he fell into a deep sleep.

After they had breakfast, they prepared to leave the Shen family’s old house. Before leaving, Ye Tingtong specifically went back to his room to take a look.

Xue Gao was still not there.

Last night, after he came back from the study with Shen Jun, Xue Gao was no longer in his room. He had originally wanted to say goodbye to the kitty.

Shen Jun saw him come out of the room empty-handed and with his head lowered. His eyes moved slightly, but he said nothing.

After returning to Taizi Bay, that evening, Ye Tingtong mentioned something to Shen Jun, “Yu Hui’s family is also in A City, and they’ve been inviting me to their house for the New Year. He mentioned it to me again yesterday.”

As he spoke, Ye Tingtong watched Shen Jun’s expression, “These days are free, right? Can I go?”

Every year during the New Year, Yu Hui would invite him. But before, Ye Guodong had always made him go out to meet people, and he was running around everywhere during the winter break. He simply didn’t have time to go. This year, because of the final exam reviews, his relationship with Yu Hui had become closer, and he felt like he could visit.

Shen Jun was bidding for a piece of jade jewelry online and didn’t even raise his head, “You don’t need to ask me if you can do this sort of thing. You just need to inform me, and I will ensure your safety.”

Ye Tingtong was stunned for a moment, his beautiful eyes sparkling. He nodded firmly, and said each word carefully and solemnly, “I’m going to Yu Hui’s house tomorrow.”

Shen Jun heard his overly serious tone, a hint of a smile flashed in his eyes. “Understood. I’ll have the driver take you tomorrow.”

Ye Tingtong got Shen Jun’s permission and immediately took out his phone to send a message to Yu Hui, who replied with a grinning big face emoji.

He thought that he seemed to have friends other than Yu Huanhuan.

Ye Tingtong curled the corners of his mouth, preparing to return to his room. Before leaving, he took a few steps and then turned back, leaning his hands on the table, and asked Shen Jun a question, “Aren’t you being too indulgent with me? What if one day, I don’t listen to you?”

For the first twenty years of his life, the restraints he had endured were too heavy. And now, Shen Jun clearly had the rope in his hands, but he gave him endless freedom and respect. Wasn’t he afraid he would take his favor for granted?

When Ye Guodong scolded him, he often said that he would think he was special if he was given any small advantage, that he didn’t know his place.

Therefore, when Ye Tingtong interacted with people, he would always weigh his own value in his heart, carefully and cautiously. But in front of Shen Jun, he didn’t have to.

Shen Jun glanced at the document that was wrinkled by Ye Tingtong, averted his gaze, and said, “Then I should feel proud.”

This proved that the little tree he nurtured was growing healthily.