Red Line Resurrection Chapter 11

Chapter 11

◎Don’t lie.◎

Fortunately, the study was only a few steps from his bedroom. Shen Lingjun leaned against the wall, stumbling back to his room, wiping the tears from his face with the back of his hand, feeling a sense of relief at having survived a disaster.

But his butt really hurt, and he didn’t dare sit down. He lay prone on the bed, slowly trying to let the pain subside. Away from Liang Ji’an’s terrifying oppressive presence, his mind seemed to clear up a bit. He regretted selling the Learning Device while simultaneously cursing Ji Yuxuan in his heart for sending him a message. If he hadn’t known about the game update, he wouldn’t have had all these messy thoughts!

The fault lay with himself, but since Shen Lingjun had already been punished, he didn’t want to blame himself anymore. He pulled out his phone, typed a string of words to Ji Yuxuan, broke up with him, and then completely blocked the borrowed number he had used.

There were three knocks on the room door. He thought it was He Wen coming in to bring medicine, and without lifting his head, he said, “Come in,” his voice muffled and slightly tearful. “Uncle, just leave the medicine there, I’ll apply it later.”

There was no movement behind him. Shen Lingjun turned his head and saw that the person leaning against the wall holding the ointment was Liang Ji’an. He was startled, flipped his body over, and pressed down on the injured area. The tears that had almost dried up immediately gushed out again from the pain, and his entire face, eyes, and nose turned bright red from crying.

In truth, his tears were more due to fear than pain. Now, seeing Liang Ji’an come to bring the medicine, he felt a belated sense of grievance. He stood on the carpet beside the bed, pouting, a single pea-sized tear still hanging from his chin.

Liang Ji’an couldn’t help but wonder if he had been too heavy-handed earlier. He raised his hand and used his thumb to wipe away the tears on Shen Lingjun’s cheek. Shen Lingjun instinctively rubbed his face into Liang Ji’an’s palm a little, as if using this small action to test Liang Ji’an’s attitude toward him again.

He wasn’t short, but Liang Ji’an was very tall. The height difference allowed him to take in Shen Lingjun’s timid yet obedient expression completely. His damp eyelashes fluttered like uneasy butterflies.

Liang Ji’an sighed for perhaps the umpteenth time today. This child had a lovable face but did things that were frustrating and infuriating. However, he had already lectured and punished him in the study. Once the matter was over, he wouldn’t stay angry with Shen Lingjun. He lightly touched his face and asked, “Do you want me to apply the medicine for you?”

That single sentence made Shen Lingjun, who had been planning to act spoiled, immediately stand up straight. He took the ointment and shook his head like a rattle. “No need, I’ll apply it myself!”

Clutching the ointment, he entered the bathroom without looking back. After confirming that the door was securely locked, he carefully lowered his pants in front of the mirror. There were still visible marks on his fair skin that hadn’t completely faded. If they were so clear through a layer of fabric, Shen Lingjun shuddered, gently touched the area with his hand, sniffled, and silently cursed Liang Ji’an for hitting him so hard.

He had never been severely punished growing up. His mother always seemed to feel guilty because of his physical condition, and she wouldn’t even speak a harsh word, let alone hit him. His grandparents also doted on him. When he was lazy and didn’t want to walk as a child, if he acted spoiled and demanded to be carried even at seven or eight, someone would genuinely pick him up and comfort him. The greatest hardship he had ever endured was being bullied at school, but that kind of intimate humiliation didn’t cause him any physical pain; it was mostly mental terror.

Thinking of this, Shen Lingjun suddenly felt nauseous. He covered his mouth and dry-heaved a few times. Compared to those experiences, Liang Ji’an hitting him wasn’t such an excessive thing after all.

The ointment likely contained mint; it smelled fresh and felt cool and comfortable when applied. Shen Lingjun stood with bare legs, waiting for the medicine to dry, his school uniform pants pooled around his ankles.

He looked at his slightly swollen, tear-filled eyes in the mirror, soaked a towel in cold water, and wiped them twice. His eyelids made squelching sounds. Shen Lingjun’s thoughts drifted again. Liang Ji’an hitting him was also for his own good. This kind of fatherly or brotherly discipline was so foreign to him. Not only did he not resist it, but he found it somewhat novel.

Once the medicine dried, he had also managed to soothe himself. Anyway, he hadn’t really been angry with Liang Ji’an. He pulled up his pants and emerged from the bathroom, surprised to find that Liang Ji’an hadn’t left.

His butt, which hadn’t hurt much a moment ago, immediately started throbbing again. Shen Lingjun deliberately pretended he couldn’t walk, his face drooping as he slowly shuffled over. “Brother, why are you still here?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his tone sounded like he was trying to chase him away. Shen Lingjun sometimes hated his fluctuating emotional intelligence. He was momentarily speechless and froze in place. Fortunately, Liang Ji’an didn’t take offense, merely asking, “Did you finish applying the medicine?”

Shen Lingjun nodded, then heard him say, “I had a few things I didn’t finish saying in the study.”

The moment he spoke, Shen Lingjun immediately looked at him with hesitation, like a cat arching its back in high alert. He thought, You didn’t finish saying things, but you already finished the punishment, what more do you want? Liang Ji’an saw the fear in his eyes, mixed with a subtle hint of displeasure, and couldn’t help but smile. “I’m not going to criticize you.”

Having large eyes wasn’t always an advantage; they couldn’t hide any emotion. Moreover, because his butt hurt, he couldn’t sit down and was only standing. Liang Ji’an leaned against the wall, almost level with him, and his tone softened slightly. “My sending you to school isn’t necessarily about demanding that you achieve excellent grades.”

“It’s simply because you are still at the age for studying.”

“I know you haven’t properly attended school for a long time, but rather than having you play games all day, going to school and interacting with peers might be better.”

“But that was just my thought. If I had been more thoughtful, I should have consulted your opinion before making the decision, instead of just informing you.”

“So, do you have any plans for your future?”

Liang Ji’an’s attitude now was completely different from a short while ago. Shen Lingjun silently complained that perhaps the glasses were his true form; Liang Ji’an looked incredibly calm when wearing them.

Shen Lingjun thought for a while. In truth, he had no idea what he liked to do or what he wanted to do. Only now did he finally realize that the massive changes in his life were slowly starting to affect his future. Even if he remained unemployed for the rest of his life, Liang Ji’an probably wouldn’t let him suffer.

Seeing him remain silent for a long time, Liang Ji’an added, “If you don’t have a plan, I can help you map one out.”

Shen Lingjun seemed somewhat swayed, but ultimately, he shook his head. “I haven’t thought about it yet.”

“Then we’ll wait until you’ve thought it through.” Liang Ji’an didn’t demand an immediate answer. He opened the door, preparing to leave, but suddenly said, “Can you go to school tomorrow? If the pain is severe, I can help you ask the teacher for leave.”

“I’ll go,” Shen Lingjun replied instinctively. “I will study hard at school.”

Liang Ji’an narrowed his eyes slightly. “Don’t lie.”

Shen Lingjun’s face immediately flushed. He pursed his lips and rephrased, “I will try my best to study hard.”

He added silently in his heart: and I will try my best not to lie.

[Author’s Note]

Smooch, smooch, smooch, smooch!

The two words that were censored in the last chapter were violence.

Thank you everyone for reading and leaving comments!