ADTCP Ch15

Tao Zhen’s breath caught for a few seconds.

He drew in the faintest breath, as though afraid of disturbing something. His lashes trembled sharply, like butterfly wings.

He replayed Zhu Wensheng’s words in his mind, and the sparks ignited a firework’s fuse, bursting into dazzling, blazing light.

Only after a beat did Tao Zhen come to his senses. He looked up, realization dawning in his eyes as he met Zhu Wensheng’s gaze: “So… when you said you wanted to step out just now…”

So it wasn’t because he disliked how badly he sang.

It was just that he knew he was nervous, so he made an excuse to leave, giving him space to perform freely, without pressure?

Zhu Wensheng gave a quiet “mm.”

He didn’t take credit, nor explain his motives. After a brief silence, he only repeated: “You sang well.”

That same phrase again.

It struck Tao Zhen off guard, like someone prying open an oyster, exposing its softest flesh.
Usually so boisterous and carefree, he now tugged stiffly at the corners of his lips, slowly lifting his head: “…Really?”

Zhu Wensheng lowered his gaze, letting it travel inch by inch over the blond boy before him.
Head tilted up, breath held, waiting desperately for an answer—his damp apricot eyes shimmered faintly with tears even he didn’t realize.

Pitiful, yet unbearably endearing.

“Really.”

It was like a boulder dropped into his chest, making Tao Zhen’s heart hammer wildly, his head spin.

He felt like a lone traveler in the desert, trudging beneath the blazing sun, parched and near death, when suddenly, a torrential rain poured down, quenching everything.

Even if the rain ended soon, he had filled his canteen with it, enough courage to keep going.

After a long moment, he broke into a genuine smile, leaning close with a conspiratorial air:
“…Come here, let me tell you a secret.”

Zhu Wensheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. After hesitating, he leaned down.

Tao Zhen curved his eyes, arms circling Zhu Wensheng’s neck. Warm breath brushed his earlobe like a delicate kiss: “Zhu Wensheng, you’re the first person in the world to ever tell me I sing well.”

“Thank you. It makes me really, really happy.”

Zhu Wensheng’s breath stumbled, his whole body going rigid.

His ears, worn and battered from years of training, should have been numb to such feather-light “attacks.” But instinct betrayed him, tingling shivers spread from that touch, coursing through him.

Suppressing the surge inside, he stared straight ahead, voice low and hoarse: “…You’ve always been good. It’s just that no one else ever heard it.”

“Then I have to thank you even more!”

Tao Zhen blinked, his tone turning earnest. “Thank you… for being willing to hear me.”

If it weren’t for you, I might have spent my whole life being seen as a “tone-deaf fool.”

Zhu Wensheng suddenly turned his head, his heart pounding, heat rising in his chest.

Tao Zhen, oblivious, smiled shyly, excited, expectant, like a small animal rolling around to show its soft belly just because it liked its favorite toy.

Pure, simple, wholehearted.

“Zhu Wensheng, you’re so good!”

So easy to topple with a poke, and yet, a second later, he’d crawl back without holding a grudge, just to press close and share something he loved.

They held each other’s gaze for a few seconds before Zhu Wensheng abruptly looked away.

No.

He was not “good” at all.

A good person wouldn’t harbor the thought of devouring Tao Zhen whole.

***

The whole point of coming to the KTV was to record Tao Zhen’s audition video for the music club. Now that it was done, they didn’t linger in the private room.

Tao Zhen, though much more confident than before, still wasn’t ready to sing openly in front of people; and Zhu Wensheng had no interest in singing, never once going near the song console.

When they left the mall, the sky was still blue, the sun slanting low.

Tao Zhen, overheated, quickly hailed a cab. He meant to drop Zhu Wensheng off first before heading home, but the routes didn’t match. To save time, he got out first.

Once home, he showered quickly, still dripping as he hurried to his computer. Without even drying his hair, he opened his email, attached the video, and typed up a thoughtful statement about why he wanted to join the music club.

Ding! Sent successfully.

He sat staring at the inbox, heart still racing, fingers rolling the mouse wheel idly. Out of habit, he opened the video app where he often rewatched Lin Manyao’s troupe recordings.
Scrolling through his music playlist, a sudden idea struck.

What if… he uploaded his video there too?

No one might watch, sure, but at least he could “favorite” it himself. That way, his own singing could sit side by side with Lin Manyao’s troupe!

Excited, he logged in, quickly filled in a title and description, hit publish, and as soon as the little star lit up, he clicked it.
A red dot popped up: “User 【ZhenZhiBang】 has added your video to favorites.”

He laughed to himself for a while, then shivered, realizing he hadn’t even dried his hair.
Rushing to the bathroom for a towel, he spotted his discarded clothes, and froze.

Wait?

When leaving the mall, he’d tossed off his jacket in the heat. Then he’d tossed it onto the seat in the cab… and forgotten it.

He must have left it in the car.

And he really liked that jacket!

Springing up, he was about to call the driver—when ding! A new message popped up. From 【S】.

Zhu Wensheng?

Tao Zhen realized: Zhu Wensheng had gotten out after him. He must’ve picked it up.
Sure enough, opening WeChat, he saw a photo, Zhu Wensheng holding the jacket in one rough, long-fingered hand. His solid forearm, muscles sleek and defined, filled the frame.

【S: You forgot your jacket.】

Tao Zhen brightened, hurriedly typing: 【Thanks!! Next time we go on a date, you can bring it…】

Halfway through, he stopped, frowning, and held delete.

No, no—that sounded way too blunt!

He was the “patron,” after all, but he’d hardly spent anything on Zhu Wensheng. If he fussed over even a jacket, it would sound so stingy…

Zhu Wensheng waited quietly for a long while, the top of his screen still showing “The other person is typing…”

He dropped his gaze, staring at the jacket in his hand. Like its owner, it was loud, flamboyant, impossible to ignore.

Maybe it was because it was so loved by its owner, but the jacket carried a much stronger scent.

Fresh soap, a burst of floral, a faint trace of milk, almost like the baby powder little kids often used.

Compared to that black hoodie he’d only worn for a short while, this one carried much more of “Tao Zhen’s scent”—

【ZhenZhiBang: hehe, I guess this jacket likes you better. I bought it super oversized, so why don’t I leave it for you to wear, okay?】

【ZhenZhiBang: I’ve got the matching pants too, I’ll bring them for you next time!】

With a towel still draped over his head, Tao Zhen sat cross-legged on the bed. After thinking hard for a while, he finally typed out what he felt was the perfect reply. He couldn’t help grinning to himself, looking very pleased.
But when no reply came from the other end, his excitement slowly ebbed away.

Tao Zhen pulled the towel off his head and stared anxiously at the screen, terrified that at any moment he’d see a rejection pop up.

Wouldn’t Zhu Wensheng, who hadn’t even liked that understated Fendi shirt, refuse this flashy platinum-and-gold Versace jacket even more…?

Then ding ding—two messages came through. Tao Zhen hurriedly covered the screen with his hand, peeking through his fingers like a child—

【S: .】

【S: Okay.】

Tao Zhen froze for two seconds. Eh?

Could it be… Zhu Wensheng didn’t like Fendi, but actually liked Versace?