ADTCP Ch23part1

Tao Zhen choked up, for a moment not knowing how to answer.

He had to admit, Zhu Wensheng’s “poverty” had indeed been a big reason why their sugar-relationship came about. Otherwise, even if he had fallen for Zhu Wensheng at first sight, he never would have acted so rashly.

“I…”

Tao Zhen stammered, unable to find the right words. He was flustered and helpless. “I don’t mean it like that, I never thought you were pitiful. I know you’ll definitely achieve great things in the future, it’s just…”

Zhu Wensheng stared at him for a few seconds. The breath in his chest seemed to deflate.
He reached out and smoothed Tao Zhen’s messy, soft cowlick, his voice low and hoarse:
“Alright. I get it.”

You, you, you get what?

Tao Zhen rubbed the spot where his hair had been smoothed, a strange unease rising in him. It felt like something very important had just flashed across his mind, but no matter how he tried, he couldn’t grasp it.

Why was Zhu Wensheng acting so strange today?

Something wasn’t right.

Tao Zhen’s mind whirred. His round, dark eyes darted around, finally landing on Da Hai, who was training with the other pros not far away.

In an instant, a spark of realization struck.

He understood, nearly slapping his thigh.

Zhu Wensheng must be feeling insecure, afraid of being replaced. That’s why he was acting this way!

Otherwise, how could someone as straight as Zhu Wensheng suddenly say such things?

It was like a fresh graduate who’d just gotten an offer, suddenly finding out his boss was secretly recruiting at another job fair.

Of course he’d be nervous. Of course he’d worry.

Of course he’d want to prove he was better than the other candidates.

No wonder Zhu Wensheng had dragged Tao Zhen’s hand onto his chest muscles, he’d been trying to prove his body was better than Da Hai’s to touch!

Tao Zhen tilted his little face up and gave Zhu Wensheng a comforting smile.

Mm, he’d have to remember to transfer Zhu Wensheng his monthly salary, no, his allowance, for this “sponsorship.” That way, Zhu Wensheng could feel secure.

Zhu Wensheng lowered his head, his gaze falling on Tao Zhen’s bright, beautiful smile.

The boy’s grin was radiant and soft, his eyes shining with light, filled to the brim with affection. He looked like a small animal that had rolled onto its back, belly up, showing its fluffy stomach.

Zhu Wensheng’s fingertips twitched.

Tao Zhen cared about him.

***

That weekend, Tao Zhen gained a lot.

Not only had he convinced Tao Zhen Dajun to believe, for now, that his partner wasn’t doing underground fights, he’d also scored his second video with over two million likes. His follower count had skyrocketed past 150,000, leaving him so excited it felt like a dream.

The only misfortune was that his tongue, burned while eating at Uncle Jiang’s, still hadn’t healed by the second day. It hurt whenever anything touched it, making eating a struggle.

Jia Jia noticed his gloomy face all morning and asked what was wrong.

Tao Zhen sighed, his face long: “My mouth hurts.”

“I burned it while eating with my boyfriend. I thought holding some ice would be enough, but it’s worse today…”

The blond boy drooped his head. His lips were red and sore, making him look pitiful.
Jia Jia stared at his pretty face for a dazed couple of seconds before realizing, startled: “You have a boyfriend?”

Tao Zhen listlessly nodded. “Yeah.”

No wonder! Jia Jia pressed his fist to his lips, coughed lightly to hide his thrill, and then declared indignantly, “It’s all his fault. How could he be so rough with you?”

Tao Zhen felt the words sounded a little off, though he couldn’t say why. He quickly defended, “No, it wasn’t his fault. Honestly, it was more me not being careful.”

Jia Jia raised a brow, suddenly looking enlightened.

Tao Zhen opened his mouth, but for some reason felt like what Jia Jia was imagining was not the same as what he’d said.

After four morning classes, Tao Zhen’s tongue still burned, so he didn’t go to lunch with Jia Jia. Instead, he slowly headed to another building with his afternoon books.

On the way, he sent a message in the Fenghua Juedai group chat, recounting the morning’s conversation.

The chat fell strangely silent for a while, then exploded with emoji.

【Tong Xia: Pick up.】

【Gu Xingzhou: Pick pick pick pick.】

【Zhenzhibang: ??】

【Zhenzhibang: I burned my tongue with soup, what are you all “picking up” for?!】

【Tong Xia: …You only burned your tongue?】

【Gu Xingzhou: Don’t tell me it wasn’t from kissing that 6’2” abs-for-days boyfriend of yours so hard you bit it?】

【Gu Xingzhou: Everyone’s busy nowadays, if it’s not [NSFW] news, don’t bother us.】

Tao Zhen stared at the messages for a few seconds, nearly stumbling into the campus lake. He stopped walking and hammered the keyboard with exclamation marks.
Only then did the others somewhat sober up and rein in the jokes.

【Tong Xia: Honestly, Zhenbao, we’re not just being nosy. But after all this time, isn’t your progress with him… a little slow?】

【Gu Xingzhou: Exactly. In a normal relationship, you’d have kissed already. And yours is even a sugar relationship, don’t tell me you haven’t gotten that far?】

【Gu Xingzhou: We’re just worried. What if he’s just scamming you for money?】

…

Tao Zhen rubbed his hot cheeks and ears, trying to calm down. Tong Xia and Gu Xingzhou had always been more mature and knew more than he did, so he trusted them.

And what they said wasn’t wrong. Adults in relationships, being physically close was normal.

And besides, theirs was… that kind of relationship.

But he didn’t want to force Zhu Wensheng to kiss him. After all, a straight guy like Zhu Wensheng wouldn’t want to, right…

As his phone screen dimmed, Tao Zhen stood under the classroom building in a daze, until suddenly his peripheral vision darkened. A tall figure stopped beside him.

Thinking he was blocking the way, Tao Zhen quickly put his phone away and looked up. “Sorry, eh? Zhu Wensheng, what are you doing here?”

Zhu Wensheng lowered his gaze. His eyes fell on Tao Zhen’s faintly red tongue as he spoke. “I just finished class. I remembered you had lessons in the etiquette building this afternoon, so I came to check on you. Why didn’t you go eat? Does your tongue still hurt?”

Tao Zhen licked it, a sharp sting shooting through. He looked miserable. “…Hurts.”

It had been days since the last video, and fans were already clamoring for an update. He had wanted to strike while the iron was hot and post again, but in this state? Impossible.

“I can talk, but I can’t let anything touch it. Not comfortable.”

Zhu Wensheng frowned, reached out, and cupped Tao Zhen’s chin, prying open his lips. “Let me see?”

The early autumn breeze was cool, yet the midday sun still blazed hot above.
Forced to tilt his head back, Tao Zhen parted his neat white teeth, a shiver running down his body like ants crawling up his spine, an itch too strange to name.

Zhu Wensheng’s handsome, aloof face loomed large before him, those deep black eyes like they could swallow everything whole.

He didn’t know how long it was until Zhu Wensheng finally let go. Tao Zhen’s jaw was sore. Zhu Wensheng calmly gave his verdict: “No blisters, but it’s very red. The surface is damaged. I’ll go to the infirmary for some spray, okay?”

Tao Zhen shook his head. “No need. It’ll heal in a couple days.”

He hated the bitter, stinging medicine sprays.

His resistance was subtle, but Zhu Wensheng caught the “spoiled” attitude. He stared at him for a few seconds, then asked quietly, “Really don’t want to?”

Tao Zhen shook his head quickly. “No.”
Even watermelon frost was too bitter for him!

They held out a moment before Zhu Wensheng relented. “Alright. Fine.”

Maybe because his good intentions had been brushed aside, Zhu Wensheng stayed silent as they walked upstairs to put away Tao Zhen’s books.

And no sooner had they sat in the empty classroom than Zhu Wensheng got up again, making an excuse to leave.

Tao Zhen blinked, then mumbled an “oh,” watching his retreating back.

…Was he mad?

Did he think his patron was too hard to please?

It wasn’t only new hires who feared their offers being rescinded, bosses also feared the talent they liked might jump ship…

Tao Zhen rarely let his thoughts run wild, but this time he paced back and forth in place.

Hunger and fatigue from skipping breakfast washed over him, leaving him drooping listlessly.

The next moment, the classroom door opened.
Zhu Wensheng walked in from not far away, carrying a heavy bag. He set it down on the desk, and a wave of damp cool air escaped.

Tao Zhen froze. “This is…?”

The plastic bag rustled as Zhu Wensheng, without a word, began taking things out one by one. Chilled milk, chocolate for energy, easy-to-eat mashed potato salad… and finally, a large jar of chilled canned yellow peaches.

From his pocket, he pulled out a neatly wrapped little metal spoon and twisted open the lid for Tao Zhen.