ATMAWTPM Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Insomnia Until One or Two O’Clock.

Shen Jun took Ye Tingtong to the nearest hospital. They took X-rays and found no fractures, but a severe ligament sprain in his ankle. His ankle was swollen high and needed to be immobilized with a partial cast.

Ye Tingtong also had abrasions on his hands. There were even small pebbles embedded in the wounds. When the doctor was cleaning them with tweezers, Ye Tingtong lowered his head and gripped his pants tightly with his other hand, without making a sound.

The doctor was an acquaintance; he had also disinfected Ye Tingtong’s face injury last time.

“Shout if it hurts; no one will laugh at you.” The doctor couldn’t help but say, “There are a lot of small stones, so cleaning them will be difficult. If it hurts too much, I can wait for you to take a break before continuing.”

Last time, with such a small abrasion on his face, this patient had been so nervous. His eyes had even turned red with pain when alcohol was used. He was clearly the type who was very afraid of pain.

Unexpectedly, almost ten minutes had passed now, and Ye Tingtong hadn’t uttered a single sound. However, the bulging veins on the back of his other hand revealed that he wasn’t not in pain but was forcibly enduring it.

This wasn’t good; overly tense muscles would cause the stones to become even more deeply embedded.

Ye Tingtong could feel the gaze of the person behind him. He gritted his teeth and took a deep breath, “It’s okay, please continue.”

On the way to the hospital, Shen Jun drove very fast, without asking any questions, just silently arranging the most thorough check-up for him and staying by his side the whole time.

At A University, when Ye Tingtong saw Shen Jun, he was undoubtedly surprised. However, afterward, he felt uneasy.

He felt like he was causing too much trouble. Shen Jun marrying him was already him taking advantage, but he was actually still entangled with Shen Jun’s nephew.

Even though it wasn’t his intention, he had been behind Shen Minghuai for two years. Now, Shen Jun caught them in a mess, and he didn’t know how to explain it himself.

Moreover, Shen Minghuai’s words had pierced his already fragile heart like thorns.

“Shen Jun doesn’t necessarily need you; I can introduce him to someone more suitable.”

He could only try his best not to cause Shen Jun any more trouble and couldn’t let him be annoyed at this time.

After his wounds were treated, Ye Tingtong followed Shen Jun, hopping towards the parking lot.

Fortunately, the hospital was well-designed, with handrails along the walls, providing support when he walked.

But this was still a big burden for Ye Tingtong, who had sprained his foot. By the time he got into the car, beads of sweat were forming on his forehead from the pain.

He fastened his seatbelt, “Can you take me back to A University? My roommate said they’ll pick me up at the school gate.”

After speaking, Ye Tingtong seemed to remember something and quickly explained, “Not Shen Minghuai, it’s our dorm head, Yu Hui.”

However, Shen Jun, with his hands on the steering wheel, didn’t start the car. His profile was ambiguous in the dim light of the hospital parking lot.

“What did Shen Minghuai say to you?”

Even the doctor could see Ye Tingtong’s abnormality.

When he had initially carried him out, Ye Tingtong was so aggrieved that he almost buried his head on his shoulder, but once they got to the hospital, that bit of emotion was completely hidden. He had even lightly refused when Shen Jun had wanted to help him, saying he could manage.

Shen Jun’s voice was very clear in the enclosed car. His cold tone heavily struck Ye Tingtong’s heart.

His face became even paler. His wide eyes showed clear nervousness and fear, “Ah? Why are you asking like that? We just happened to be in the same exam room because we have the same major. I didn’t do anything with him…”

He used to be happy to be in the same major as Shen Minghuai, making it easier to get in contact with him. Now, he only felt a deep helplessness. Being in the same major and the same dorm meant he had no way to avoid Shen Minghuai. They would even sleep in the same room sometimes…

Ye Tingtong lowered his head again. If he were Shen Jun, he would also feel disgusted.

“I don’t want to repeat myself.” Shen Jun looked at the cowering Ye Tingtong, his eyes dark. “What did Shen Minghuai say to you?”

The coercive tone made Ye Tingtong nervous and uneasy. Shen Jun’s aura was too strong. His heart was pounding, and his fair fingers were clutching his seatbelt, as if doing so could give him strength.

“He said… to recommend a more suitable marriage partner for you. If necessary, he can sacrifice certain benefits to exchange for it with you.”

There was a moment of silence in the car. As time went by, the composure Ye Tingtong had been trying to maintain gradually crumbled. He looked at his hand, bandaged into a white dumpling, and said quietly, “Shen Jun, don’t abandon me. I will try my best to do what you ask.”

He knew he wasn’t special. For someone like Shen Jun, finding a replacement would be effortless.

“Who said I’m going to change people?” Shen Jun’s tone was as cold as ever, “You believe whatever Shen Minghuai says? Then why didn’t you let him take you to the hospital?”

There was a hint of barely detectable anger in his tone. Shen Jun even paused after speaking.

“The only thing Shen Minghuai has to show off is his parents’ 5% stake, but that’s his family’s biggest asset. It’s not up to him to decide.” Shen Jun adjusted his tone, returning to his usual indifference. “If I were really interested in that bit of stock, I would have long followed my mother’s wishes and married someone she arranged.”

Qin Qiong had 10% of the shares and had used them as a bargaining chip to arrange his marriage, which he had rejected without hesitation.

He wasn’t that short-sighted.

Ye Tingtong hadn’t expected to hear these words. He quickly raised his head, his beautiful face filled with both surprise and joy, “So, you won’t listen to Shen Minghuai, right?”

Shen Jun frowned, wanting to emphasize the difference in their social status, but seeing Ye Tingtong’s expectant face, he ultimately turned his head, coldly humming an acknowledgment.

Ye Tingtong let out a heavy breath; the tension was gone from his face.

Shen Jun had no reason to lie to him.

Shen Jun wouldn’t give him up because of Shen Minghuai’s petty benefits.

Reaching this conclusion, Ye Tingtong’s mood completely lightened, and he even wanted to cross his legs, but the car space was cramped, and as soon as he moved, his injured right leg slammed into the front wall, causing him to grimace in pain.

Shen Jun glanced at him, not saying a word, and started the car, driving out of the hospital.

Seeing that he wasn’t speaking, Ye Tingtong pursed his lips, withdrawing his exaggerated expression.

Shen Jun seemed to be angry. He had been watching him the whole time when the doctor was picking stones from his hand, but now he didn’t give him a single glance.

Ye Tingtong sulked for a while and suddenly realized they were heading back to school. He tentatively delayed, “Aren’t we going to eat?”

Shen Jun looked at the road ahead, not turning his head, “It’s already past eleven.”

Ye Tingtong dejectedly shut his mouth. Shen Jun must have spoken to someone because the car drove all the way to the bottom of his dorm building.

Just as he unbuckled his seatbelt, ready to quickly get out, he suddenly heard the sound of the car doors locking.

Ye Tingtong: “?”

Shen Jun said, “Have your roommate help you bring down your things.”

Ye Tingtong couldn’t follow his train of thought, “What things?”

“Your luggage.” Shen Jun glanced at his casted leg, “You can’t stay in the dorm like this.”

Ye Tingtong thought about it, and it was true. His dorm was on the fourth floor. With his leg like this, not only could he not go back to the library to study, but even eating would be difficult. Even if he ordered takeout, riders weren’t allowed to go upstairs.

He had planned to ask the dorm head, Yu Hui, to bring him food to get through this period. He hadn’t expected Shen Jun to consider moving him out.

He very obediently nodded, “But it’s better if I pack my luggage myself. Don’t bother them.”

Just as Ye Tingtong was about to signal Shen Jun to unlock the door, the phone in his pocket rang. It was Yu Hui.

“Tongzai, where are you? Minghuai and I are here to pick you up.”

Ye Tingtong knew that he wasn’t mobile and assumed Shen Jun could only drop him off at the school gate, so he had contacted Yu Hui in advance, hoping they could pick him up.

But he hadn’t expected Shen Minghuai to get involved.

The enclosed space made his conversation with Yu Hui clear and audible.

Ye Tingtong subconsciously glanced at Shen Jun, but only saw the other’s cold profile.

Shen Minghuai was waiting next to Yu Hui. When he heard that Ye Tingtong wasn’t speaking, he became a little anxious, “Tongzai, where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”

Ye Tingtong had not replied to his messages or answered his calls, so he could only piggyback on Yu Hui’s phone.

“No need.” Ye Tingtong hurriedly refused, “I’ll be up in a moment.”

He really didn’t want Shen Jun and Shen Minghuai to meet.

After hanging up the call, he hesitated and looked at Shen Jun, struggling to find the right words. He only heard Shen Jun ask him, “Fourth floor, how are you going to get up?”

Ye Tingtong blinked, and tentatively asked, “Hop up?”

That’s how he had left the hospital.

Shen Jun: “.”

In the end, Yu Hui helped Ye Tingtong pack his luggage and bring it downstairs. Shen Jun put it in the trunk.

Ye Tingtong didn’t get out of the car. Due to the angle, he didn’t see Shen Minghuai standing at the door of the dorm building, and naturally missed the eye contact between Shen Minghuai and Shen Jun.

One clenched his fists, his eyes filled with unwillingness, while the other looked indifferent, and only glanced at him before lightly shifting his gaze away.

Shen Jun’s attitude towards Shen Minghuai had always been like this.

After getting in the car, Shen Jun handed Ye Tingtong his bag, “Your dorm head said he put all your study materials in it. He said you should rest your leg and ask him through video if you don’t understand anything.”

Ye Tingtong felt the heavy weight in his arms. He unzipped it and roughly flipped through it. Most of the contents were math practice books. He was both grateful and overwhelmed.

That damn advanced math.

Shen Jun drove him to Taizi Bay, “I have some work to handle at the company.”

After speaking, without waiting for Ye Tingtong to reply, he drove away.

The facilities at Taizi Bay were very convenient, and the security was very helpful. Ye Tingtong entered the house without any difficulty.

As soon as he entered, he shivered. The large apartment was cold and sterile, with no sense of home.

He had lived here for three days, and Shen Jun hadn’t come back once. Only the housekeeper came to cook meals and make soup for him three times a day, and the doctor came for regular check-ups.

Ye Tingtong was alone in the big room. Even though the environment was quieter and more comfortable than in the library, he would often zone out, always thinking about Shen Jun’s cold profile before he left that night.

He was sure that Shen Jun was angry.

But too many things had happened that day, and he didn’t know which one had made Shen Jun angry.

When Yu Huanhuan received Ye Tingtong’s call for help, she was busy working on a new project in cooperation with Shen Jun, “You’ve been agonizing over this nonsense for three days?”

“Don’t worry, he’s definitely not really angry with you.”

If Shen Jun were truly upset, her project with him wouldn’t be progressing this smoothly. Shen Jun even sent his personal assistant to liaise, which showed his sincerity.

Hearing her casual tone, Ye Tingtong murmured softly, “Shen Jun hasn’t come back for three days.”

He hadn’t stayed at Taizi Bay many times, but almost every time, Shen Jun had stayed overnight. Now that he was avoiding him, what else could it be other than anger.

Seeing his mood was really low, Yu Huanhuan raised her hand, stopping her subordinates from reporting, “If you’re so worried, just coax him back!”

Ye Tingtong was stunned, “How do I coax him?”

This made Yu Huanhuan speechless, “You really do have a pretty face for nothing.”

“Can’t you act cute?” Yu Huanhuan broke down the knowledge for him, “Say you’re scared to live alone, that you want someone to accompany you, and make your tone more pitiful. That’s all you need to do.”

Ye Tingtong was actually pretty good at showing weakness, but he only did it when he was in trouble and really needed help, showing a pitiful expression. Before, Shen Minghuai had had various girlfriends, so it wasn’t Ye Tingtong’s place to coax him. As a result, this kid was now at a complete loss.

“But… we don’t sleep together, so what’s the difference between one person and two? Why would I be scared?”

As soon as he asked, Yu Huanhuan hung up the phone with a snap, clearly too lazy to talk to him.

At ten o’clock in the evening, Ye Tingtong tossed and turned in bed more than ten times. He mustered the courage to send a message.

[Ye Tingtong: The rib soup the housekeeper made today was delicious. I saved some for you. Are you coming back to have it today?]

No reply.

[Ye Tingtong: The doctor said my foot is recovering well, and I can remove the cast in another week~~~]

[Ye Tingtong: Little cat spinning on one leg.jpg]

Still no response. Ye Tingtong bit his lip and decided to use the method Yu Huanhuan had taught him.

[Ye Tingtong: Shen Jun, the house is so cold. Can you come back and keep me company?]

Ten minutes later, Ye Tingtong’s phone rang, the special ringtone making his eyes light up.

[Shen Jun: I checked, the air conditioner is on, and the temperature is currently 28℃.]

Ye Tingtong: “???”

He even subconsciously turned around and looked at the air conditioner in the bedroom. It was really 28℃!

Ye Tingtong could only blush and try to defend himself.

[Ye Tingtong: It’s not that kind of cold, it’s that cold and lonely feeling of being alone. I can’t sleep until one or two o’clock at night, and sometimes I wake up freezing in the middle of the night.]

[Ye Tingtong: But the days when you were here, I slept very well.]

After sending these messages, Ye Tingtong hid his face in the pillow for a long time.

But, maybe his lies were too clumsy, Shen Jun didn’t reply, probably because he was too lazy to respond.

However, he still held out hope, hugged his pillow, and stubbornly waited until eleven o’clock at night.

Shen Jun still hadn’t come back.

He yawned, thinking, he should have finished the bowl of rib soup in the kitchen.

Half an hour later, a locking sound came from the living room.

Since being exposed by Shen Jun about the temperature at home during the day, Ye Tingtong hadn’t turned on the air conditioner. The temperature dropped, and he was still used to leaving his bedroom door open, unable to keep warm, causing him to pull his head further into the blankets.

His ears covered, Ye Tingtong slept groggily, not hearing any sound, including the sound of footsteps approaching the bedroom door.

Shen Jun stood at the door, looking at the small lump that was motionless on the bed. He checked his watch.

It was currently 11:27 pm, and Ye Tingtong was already fast asleep.

Shen Jun stood for a while, took out his phone, and silently turned on the air conditioning.