ADTCP Ch19

Yet the scent clinging to him was too stubborn, no matter how hard Zhu Wensheng rubbed, it just wouldn’t go away.

He frowned slightly, irritation rising in his chest.

At that moment, Tao Zhen suddenly pounced, wrapping himself around his arm and leaning close to whisper in his ear:

“This car is so cool! I even talked to my dad about wanting to buy one, but he only likes the ones with that little gold ornament on the hood… Where’d you get this car from?”

He cautiously peeked through the partition at the driver in front.

“Are ride-hailing cars this fancy now? Even a Maybach is doing Didi runs? Has the economy really gone downhill like this?”

Zhu Wensheng’s breath hitched. Tao Zhen was so soft, clinging to his arm like a little animal showing its fluffy belly, practically begging to be petted.

“This isn’t a ride-hail,” Zhu Wensheng’s fingers stiffened before he finally managed to move them, his voice hoarse. “It’s my car. My driver.”

Tao Zhen’s eyes flew wide open.

He quickly slid the partition shut to confirm that only the two of them could hear, then reached out to touch Zhu Wensheng’s forehead, whispering:

“What’s going on…? I’m the one who drank, so why do you sound drunk?”

“…”

Zhu Wensheng knew he shouldn’t bother explaining himself to someone acting like a tipsy fool, but he still answered patiently:

“It’s true. I’m not lying.”

Tao Zhen blinked, his fingers brushing down from Zhu Wensheng’s forehead to his cheek.
Ah, that damned adolescent pride. Zhu Wensheng must really hate showing weakness in front of him, which was why he told such harmless little lies.

“Mm, okay,” Tao Zhen’s eyes shone with pity and admiration. “I know you wouldn’t lie to me. You’re always so capable, this kind of car must be nothing to you…”

Zhu Wensheng stayed silent. Instead, he lowered his head, pulled out a few wet wipes, unfolded them neatly, then cupped Tao Zhen’s chin and began wiping his face from the forehead down.

Tao Zhen let out a muffled “mmph.” The chilled wipe made him shiver, and he instinctively tried to turn away. But Zhu Wensheng’s grip on his waist tightened.

“Don’t move. Close your eyes.”

For some reason, Zhu Wensheng’s commands always made people want to obey. Tao Zhen scrunched his face but obediently shut his eyes, lips parting slightly:

“Okay…”

“Hey, ” But after only two seconds, he opened them again, curiosity sparkling as he stared at Zhu Wensheng.

“I almost forgot to ask, why did you call me earlier?”

Zhu Wensheng’s hand paused.
Maybe it was the alcohol, but Tao Zhen seemed different than usual, his cheeks flushed, his big dark eyes blinking wet and bright.

Zhu Wensheng stared for a few seconds, then drew in a sharp breath. He pulled out a fresh wipe and carefully cleaned the back of Tao Zhen’s pale neck.

“You asked me last time when I’d have time to help record your video. I finished training early today, so…”

Tao Zhen froze, then his heart leapt.

He couldn’t help but grin, rubbing his cheek against Zhu Wensheng’s palm as he wiped:

“You remembered what I said! You’re the best!”

Zhu Wensheng’s breath faltered. Two seconds later, he said quietly:
“Really? But you’ve been busy tonight… Seems you don’t have time to record.”

“No, no, I’ve got time! We can do it right now!”

Tao Zhen shook his head eagerly. “Actually, I came to this music club event tonight just to get inspiration. The seniors recommended a bunch of songs that are perfect for beginners to cover. I wrote them all down…”

As he spoke, Zhu Wensheng methodically wiped between each of Tao Zhen’s fingers, scrubbing away every trace of barroom scents. Only after he was done did he slowly clean his own hands and pull out his phone.

“Mm. So which song did you choose in the end?”

Tao Zhen’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Another one by the same singer as before, same style. It’s really popular, so lots of people should know it…”

The handsome black-haired boy sat quietly, raising the camera. Half his face bathed in light, the other half hidden in ocean-deep shadow, unreadable.

“Tao Zhen. Sing it for me?”

“…”

Tao Zhen’s heart pounded wildly. He stared blankly at Zhu Wensheng’s face for a moment before reacting belatedly:

“O-okay!”

This would be the first time Tao Zhen truly sang in front of someone.

Unlike the KTV attempt, now only fifteen centimeters separated him and Zhu Wensheng. They were practically pressed together. He could see his own reflection both in the lens and in Zhu Wensheng’s dark eyes.

The blond boy took a deep breath, and at the last moment, changed his choice of song.

“My baby, my baby,
I’ll give you something sweet,
So you can sleep well tonight.”

“My little imp, my little imp,
I’ll tease your eyes and brow,
So you’ll fall in love with the world.”

…

The car sped along, scenery outside blurring into smeared snapshots. Streetlights flickered past, their glow flashing through the windows, drawing the two of them closer and closer.

Tao Zhen’s bright eyes locked on the camera. His usually clear voice softened, hoarse at the edges, like a tender confession of love.

“Lalalala, my baby,
When you’re tired, I’ll be there.
Aiyaya, my baby,
I’ll let you know you’re the most beautiful.”

…

The song was short, barely two minutes, and ended quickly.

From the first line, Zhu Wensheng had been struck dumb, only blinking back to reality much later. Before he could hit stop, Tao Zhen beamed, squinting his eyes into crescents, and blew a playful “mua” at the camera.

His dark eyes shimmered with moisture, his pink lips pursed into a pout, like a feather brushing across someone’s heart.

Zhu Wensheng’s chest tightened painfully. He gripped the armrest hard, forcing himself to put away the phone, suppressing the tide surging in his chest.

“Was it good?” Tao Zhen suddenly leaned closer, brows curved, his tone shy but eager.

“My mom used to sing this to me when I was little. I don’t know why, but it just popped into my head…”

Zhu Wensheng’s breathing was still unsteady. He flipped the phone face down, voice hoarse:
“Good.”

Tao Zhen’s eyes lit up: “Really?”

Zhu Wensheng lowered his gaze, squeezing the phone tight.
“Really.”

Whether before or now, Tao Zhen always sang beautifully, smooth, heartfelt, without a single falter. He was like a young eagle standing on the edge of a cliff, wings strong enough to soar, needing only a favorable wind to take flight.

“Really, very good.”

Tao Zhen grinned in delight, tugging at Zhu Wensheng’s arm to remind him to send the video later.

Just then, the car pulled up beneath his apartment. He hopped out, waving with a smile.
“Bye!”

Zhu Wensheng didn’t answer.

He watched Tao Zhen disappear upstairs, lights flickering on in the stairwell, before sitting silently in place, phone clutched tightly in his hand.

After a long time, the driver, uncertain of his intent, nervously lowered the partition, about to ask if they should leave.

But before he could speak, he caught sight of something startling in the rearview mirror.

The aloof, detached Zhu Wensheng was sitting with his head bowed, expression soft, lips faintly curved, rewinding the video again and again to replay the very last frame.

The blond boy squinted his eyes, softened his voice, and blew one sweet “mua” kiss after another toward the camera.

Drinking at night always had some effect the next day.
Most people reacted to a hangover with splitting headaches, but Tao Zhen’s symptom was endless trips to the bathroom. Especially after all that cola punch, he barely slept a wink. He even forgot to ask Zhu Wensheng to send him the video.

***

During class the next morning, the usually pale skin under his eyes was marred with dark circles, which made Jia Jia tease him for being a fellow panda.

The lecture was useless; the two of them killed time by resting their heads on the desk and playing games. They barely managed to hold out until 11:25. Just as they were leaving, they ran into Bai Yuxuan at the door.

“Eh, Vice President Bai,” Jia Jia greeted with a smile, “why are you here again today?”

“Ah, hello Jia Jia.” Bai Yuxuan rubbed his tired eyes and smiled back. “I came to find Tao Zhen. I want to talk to him about something.”

Jia Jia didn’t think much of it, assuming they needed to discuss the singing video. She waved goodbye and left with a grin.

But Tao Zhen stared at Bai Yuxuan for a few seconds, his feelings complicated.

He-he-he, he couldn’t have seen Zhu Wensheng last night and still refused to give up, could he?!

Sure enough, Bai Yuxuan opened his mouth: “Tao Zhen, about last night, and about the person who came to pick you up…”

Here it comes!

Tao Zhen instantly straightened up. “He’s my boyfriend!”

“Vice President Bai, I really do thank you for speaking up for me to President Liu before,” he said earnestly, “but the two of us are already together. I can’t give you his contact information…”

Bai Yuxuan almost choked. In that instant, he realized what Tao Zhen meant and hurriedly waved his hands to deny it.

“No, no, no! That’s not what I meant at all, I have zero interest in him!”

“I came here mainly to apologize to you and your boyfriend. What I did yesterday was really out of line. First I accidentally answered your call, then forgot to tell you about it, and I even, uh, put my hands on you in front of him…”

Bai Yuxuan looked uneasy. “I was afraid you two would be angry with me.”

Tao Zhen blinked wide eyes, scratching his cheek in embarrassment. So Bai Yuxuan was here to apologize? And he thought…

Well, he had really judged a gentleman with a petty heart.

“It’s fine. Neither of us are mad. Don’t worry about it anymore.”

Only then did Bai Yuxuan breathe a sigh of relief. They were all university students now, adults who knew the value of friendship over enmity.

Besides, whether it was the wealthy Tao Zhen or the aristocratic air Zhu Wensheng carried last night, neither were people he wanted to offend.

“Alright, then I won’t disturb you.”

Bai Yuxuan smiled, then couldn’t resist teasing: “Next time, let me get another look at that ridiculously cool Maybach, okay? I remember that car is insanely expensive and limited edition, driving one means serious power.”

Wait a second, that Maybach?

Tao Zhen couldn’t help laughing. “Oh, that? That car isn’t my boyfriend’s, and it’s not mine either. He must’ve just called a luxury ride-share yesterday.”

Bai Yuxuan froze, then laughed too.

“What, a ride-share? No offense, but that’s practically impossible. Owners of those cars would never let them be used that way. Even a driver secretly taking orders without permission is unlikely. Other than the owner themselves, the next most likely case is a friend of the owner borrowing it…”

He seemed to know the industry well, carefully explaining all the details. Finally, he concluded with lingering interest:
“Anyway, whoever rides in that car is definitely not just some ordinary person.”

Tao Zhen listened, dazed. Only after Bai Yuxuan waved goodbye and left did he come back to his senses, instinctively pulling out his phone to call Zhu Wensheng.

As the “dudu” waiting tone rang in his ear, Tao Zhen couldn’t help recalling the things Zhu Wensheng had said last night.

Could it be… Zhu Wensheng really wasn’t poor at all?